Urban Bias

Abstract

The second chapter builds on the insights of modern political economy on authoritarian regime survival and redistributive politics in developing the book’s theoretical argument. Classic works of political science disagree in their assessments of the location and nature of political danger to regimes in the developing world. Dispersed rural populations may be easier to rule but without urbanization and industrialization, development will not take place. The threats that cities pose to nondemocratic regimes manifest themselves through different channels. Large cities bring together huge numbers of people in a shared space. This makes effective collective action more likely and reduces the ability of the regime to understand, observe, and govern the population. Regimes bias policies toward cities because of these dangers, but urban bias is a Faustian bargain. While stabilizing cities in the short run by reducing grievances, urban bias induces greater migration to favored cities, increasing their danger over time.