Peter M. Ward

Globalization, regional development, and mega-city expansion in Latin America: Analyzing Mexico City’s peri-urban hinterland

Abstract This paper examines the transformation of urban space in the peri-urban areas of Latin American mega-cities, further exacerbating the multi-jurisdictional political divisions that cover a single urban entity. This is against the backcloth of a sharp decline in metropolitan growth rates, absolute population loss in the city center, and an alleged “polarization reversal” of national urban patterns. It argues that previous approaches have failed to recognize that globally and nationally-derived economic development processes are often vested in these meta-urban peripheries. Using Mexico City as an example, the authors propose a new generic methodology that will allow for a broader definition and analysis of mega-city and large metropolitan development. Data are presented within this new framework that help to unpack the demographic, economic and land-use changes that are taking place in Mexico City’s broader urban area. Much of the contemporary vibrancy and dynamics of Mexico City’s metropolitan development are occurring in “hot-spots” in the extended periphery, which, to date, have rarely been considered an integral part of the mega-city. Yet these areas are also some of the principal loci of contemporary globalization processes.

The World Bank's ‘new’ urban management programme: Paradigm shift or policy continuity?

Abstract The World Bank has provided an important leadership role in setting the agenda for housing and land market analyses, and for identifying policy approaches. Although the Bank has traditionally lent only a small proportion of its budget for urban purposes, about 4–5%, it is by far the worlds largest multilateral aid agency providing two-thirds of global planning aid, the proportion of which is dedicated to cities is set to grow substantially in the next decade as part of the World Bank-UNDP-UNCHS ‘New’ Urban Management Program. This paper reviews the fundamental assumptions on which the New Urban Management Program is based. It proposes that the apparently ‘new’ strategy to emerge from the Bank is, on closer inspection, not so new after all. Nor does it seem likely that the current approach will be more effective than any of the previous conventional wisdom strategies promoted by the Bank throughout the past two decades. The latest paradigm is not necessarily the best, nor is it likely to be the last.

METHODOLOGY for land and housing market analysis

From Fitzwilliam Workshop to work on methodology, G. Jones and P.M. Ward. Part 1 Macro methodological approaches - neoclassical economic theory versus political economy perspectives tilting at windmills - paradigm shifts in World Bank orthodoxy, G. Jones and P.M. Ward an overview of the land market assessment technique, D. Dowall urban land and macroeconomic development - moving from access for the poor to urban productivity, W.A. Doebele researching the relationship between economic liberalization and changes to land markets and land prices - the case of Conakry, Guinea, 1985-91, A. Durand-Lasserve applying a political economy approach to land and housing markets in Zimbabwe, C. Rakodi social actors in land and property development - relating approaches to findings in Mexico, B. Garcia et al.

Community action by the urban poor: Democratic involvement, community self-help or a means of social control?☆

Abstract This is the first of two papers, in which we examine the nature and effectiveness of formal channels for encouraging community action and participation among low-income groups in Bogota (Columbia), Mexico City (Mexico) and Valencia (Venezuela). We are concerned with the forms of community participation among the poor, how demands are channelled to the state, the formal organization of community links with the state, and the origins of community action programmes. Organizations to facilitate popular participation in barrio upgrading have existed since the late 1950s, most of which have been imposed from the top down. We argue that the poor have derived few benefits from these government-inspired organizations although they have sometimes given resources to local communities for the first time. The primary purpose behind these organizations is to legitimate the political system and to encourage compliance with urban policy. Greater power over decision-making has not increased among local groups.

New Federalism, Intra-governmental Relations and Co-governance in Mexico

Evidence from six Mexican states is analyzed about changes in government organisation and performance arising from decentralisation and the recasting of federalism structures. Spurred by rising pluralism, greater electoral transparency, alternancia , and willingness of the Centre to ‘let go’, a more genuine structure of shared powers is emerging between the executive (governors), the legislature and the judiciary. The government bureaucracy is undergoing modernisation, and governors are seeking to share power with legislatures as a means of sharing the responsibilities of statecraft. Local congresses are exercising greater ‘checks’ and ‘balances’ vis-a-vis the executive branch. Finally, the judiciary is beginning to be reorganised, particularly at the national (Supreme Court) level, where it is starting to develop jurisprudence relating to inter- and intra-governmental relations.

From Machine Politics to the Politics of Technocracy: Charting Changes in Governance in the Mexican Municipality

Abstract A typology comprising technocratic rationality versus political partisanship helps to identify several local government structures found in contemporary Mexico: political machines; autonomous–indigenous; technocratic; and modernising party governments. Case study research in over a dozen municipalities for three principal parties suggest a trend towards increasing technocratic and more administratively efficient municipal government and changing patterns of partisanship. This arises from new pressures associated with electoral opening, political alternation, new government actors, growing urban development complexity, and from federal reforms offering greater local government autonomy. However, while improved administration and technocratic governance often leads to positive outcomes, they do not necessarily imply ‘good government’.

Community participation in upgrading irregular settlements: The community response

Abstract This second paper on community action in Bogota (Colombia), Mexico City (Mexico) and Valencia (Venezuela) examines levels of direct community involvement in improving irregular settlements. Our surveys reveal that family involvement in activities such as lobbying officials, attendance at community meetings or providing labour for neighbourhood schemes was quite limited — no more than two-fifths of owner households in survey barrios participated. Participation varied with tenure and the project; owners participated more than tenants and water and electricity programmes generated high levels of support. Despite these findings we argue that the extent and form of community participation is shaped less by local or settlement conditions than by government needs and policies.

“A Patrimony for the Children”: Low-Income Homeownership and Housing (Im)Mobility in Latin American Cities

Data are presented from a 2007 restudy of some 300 low-income self-builder owner households across eight settlements in Bogotá and Mexico City originally interviewed in the early and late 1970s, published in the mid-1980s (Gilbert and Ward 1985). Framed within a longitudinal perspective, the article analyzes the level of turnover of household owners living in irregular settlements over a period of thirty years; the current (2007) housing arrangements of households in dwellings and on plots; and the expectancies of ownership and inheritance of (now) adult children and grandchildren. The findings from the resurvey show minimal land-use changes and that more than 80 percent of the original families remain living on the lot. Densities have increased significantly, as has the average number of households sharing the lot. In Mexico City, sharing a lot is almost exclusively done with close kin (adult children), whereas in Bogotá it is both kin as well as renters. Self-estimated property values and tax office assessments show that house values in these consolidated settlements are often so high as to make it very difficult to sell, thereby reducing residential mobility. Also, the use value, and the inheritance expectations for second- and third-generation households living on the lots, gives little incentive (or option) to sell up and exit the settlement. Some of the social, judicial (tenure and inheritance), and housing policy implications and challenges are discussed.

Functional neuroanatomy and behavioural correlates of the basal ganglia: evidence from lesion studies

Introduction: The basal ganglia are interconnected with cortical areas involved in behavioural, cognitive and emotional processes, in addition to movement regulation. Little is known about which of these functions are associated with individual basal ganglia substructures. Methods: Pubmed was searched for literature related to behavioural, cognitive and emotional symptoms associated with focal lesions to basal ganglia structures in humans. Results: Six case-control studies and two case reports were identified as relevant. Lesion sites included the caudate nucleus, putamen and globus pallidus. These were associated with a spectrum of behavioural and cognitive symptoms, including abulia, poor working memory and deficits in emotional recognition. Discussion: It is often difficult to precisely map associations between cognitive, emotional or behavioural functions and particular basal ganglia substructures, due to the non-specific nature of the lesions. However, evidence from lesion studies shows that most symptoms correspond with established non-motor frontal-subcortical circuits.

Tracking land ownership in self-help homestead subdivisions in the United States: the case of Texas “colonias”

Abstract In Texas, there are some 1500 so-called colonias housing an estimated 400,000 people mostly in peri-urban areas of the border region with Mexico. At the outset colonias are unserviced or poorly serviced low-income housing settlements in which lots have been sold by developers upon which residents place trailers, construct manufactured homes, or engage in self-build. Recent research is beginning to identify similar types of semi-formal homestead sub-divisions elsewhere in the United States, suggesting that this is a widespread and growing phenomenon. However, while many such sub-divisions are sold out, the proportion of lots actually occupied varies greatly, with anywhere between 15 and 80 percent of lots being left vacant. This creates multiplex problems for effective provision and cost recovery of physical and social infrastructure, as well as for effective formation of social capital necessary for active community participation and mutual aid in local development projects. Sometimes, the land allocation process also has led to confused occupancy and to conflict about rightful lot ownership. Although recent research has led to a better understanding about the nature of these sub-divisions, it is often difficult to trace the ownership of individual lots. This is especially the case with absentee owners. As the first step towards data collection about non-owners and about “clouded” land titles, this paper identifies and tests the effectiveness of various methods that can be used to trace this “invisible” population. Working in 20 such colonias in Texas, we show that property tax records offer the most complete and effective method of tracing absentee owners to their current address. The paper also offers suggestions about the possible effectiveness of different types of survey method to gather data about lot ownership and land market performance in homestead subdivisions. As an example of the application of this methodology, survey data are presented comparing colonia residents with absentee owners. The broader application of the methodology elsewhere in the United States as well as in some less developed county contexts is discussed.