Executive Director Mark Lutter and Communications Lead Tamara Winter joined Robert Wiblin on the 80,000 Hours Podcast to discuss charter cities, how the team came together, and more. A link to the episode can be found here.
Starting afresh with a new city makes it possible to clear away thousands of harmful rules without having to fight each of the thousands of interest groups that will viciously defend their privileges. Initially the city can fund infrastructure and public services by gradually selling off its land, which appreciates as the city flourishes. And with 40 million people relocating to cities every year, there are plenty of prospective migrants.CIGR is fleshing out how these arrangements would work, advocating for them, and developing supporting services that make it easier for any jurisdiction to implement. They’re currently in the process of influencing a new prospective satellite city in Zambia.Of course, one can raise many criticisms of this idea: Is it likely to be taken up? Is CIGR really doing the right things to make it happen? Will it really reduce poverty if it is? Robert Wiblin asks these questions and more on the podcast.
Learn more about charter cities here.
