We the urban people: The demographic view on 30 world cities

From the description:

Here, we examine the population patterns of the 30 cities included in Cities of Opportunity 6 and take a closer look at two important demographic groups. First, global cities all require highly skilled, working-age people to build the future. Insight into urban professionals comes from 15,000 at PwC who took five minutes to tell us their city story. Second, an increasingly elderly world population calls for wise approaches to urban aging. Solutions being developed in Seoul, Stockholm, and Tokyo show cities working hard to turn lonely old age into a longevity dividend.

Source: Price Waterhouse Coopers (PwC)

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13th Annual Digital Cities Survey – 2013 Results

From the press release:

This year’s top-ranked cities—Boston; Irving, Texas; Avondale, Ariz.; and Palo Alto, Calif.— improved transparency with open government initiatives and access to city services via mobile apps. The cities eliminated waste and enhanced service levels using agile project management, and reduced costs and improved services through advanced analytics and performance measures.

In its 13th year, the annual survey is a part of the Digital Communities Program and is open to all U.S. cities. The survey criteria focused on results achieved by cities - via the use of technology - in operating efficiencies, realizing strategic objectives, innovative or creative solutions or approaches, effective collaboration and transparency measures, among others.

Source: Center for Digital Government and the Digital Communities Program

Link to 13th Annual Digital Cities Survey – 2013 Results

America's Big Cities in Volatile Times

Summary:

This report examines how America’s big cities navigated the worst U.S. economic downturn since the Great Depression. It focuses on postrecession revenue as compared with earlier peaks, explores future prospects, and considers cities’ remaining fiscal challenges and their ability to manage future uncertainty while continuing to provide key services to taxpayers.

Source: Pew American Cities Project

Download full pdf report: America's Big Cities in Volatile Times

Policies for Inclusive Urbanisation in China

Abstract:

Urbanisation in China has long been held back by various restrictions on land and internal migration but has taken off since the 1990s, as these impediments started to be gradually relaxed. People have moved in large numbers to richer cities, where productivity is higher and has increased further thanks to agglomeration effects. In the process, the rural-urban income differential has narrowed. Urbanisation also entails costs, however, notably in the form of congestion, all the more so as public transport provision has not kept up. Demand for living space is set to continue to increase as living standards improve, putting pressure on land prices. This can be offset by relaxing the very stringent restrictions on the use of agricultural land for building. For migrants to better integrate in the cities where they work, their access and that of their families to education, health and other social services must continue to improve, in particular via further changes to the registration system, coupled with more market-based rules on land ownership and use.

Source: Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development

Download pdf of Policies for Inclusive Urbanisation in China 

Gun Violence in U.S. Cities Compared to the Deadliest Nations in the World

Via the Atlantic

The sad reality is that many American cities have rates of gun homicides comparable to the some of the most violent nations in the world.

 Link to: Gun Violence in U.S. Cities Compared to the Deadliest Nations in the World