Half of the world’s seven billion people currently live in cities, one billion of them in informal settlements; the United Nations projects that the global urban population will expand to as many as five billion over the next two decades. As a result of failing rural economies, conflicts, material inequalities, gentrification, and other urban development programs, people are moving into, out of, and through cities in search of profit, protection, and passage elsewhere. read more
About the Comparative Urban Studies Project
For nearly two decades, the Comparative Urban Studies Project (CUSP) at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars has used a multidisciplinary and comparative framework to explore the growing significance of urban issues. Committed to improving knowledge about sustainable urban development through research, seminars, and publications, CUSP has brought together broad networks of urban scholars, practitioners, community leaders, and policymakers to better understand the challenges and opportunities brought by urbanization. more
The Latest from the Comparative Urban Studies Project
Natural Power: Sustainability Policies and Practices at the New York Power Authority
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June 13, 2013 // 12:00pm — 2:00pm
The United States is one of the largest energy consumers and biggest contributors of greenhouse gases worldwide. In 2011, the U.S. generated 42 percent of its electricity from coal and only 13 percent through renewables, chiefly hydropower. more
The Reinvention of Brazil's Largest City
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June 18, 2013 // 9:00am — 11:00am
On Tuesday, June 18th, the Brazil Institute convenes experts on urban renewal and the case of Sao Paulo. more
Housing Rehab for Consolidated Squatter Settlements in Latin America’s First Suburbs: Policy Approaches
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May 30, 2013 // 9:00am — 12:00pm
Researchers from the Latin American Housing Network (LAHN) will present finding from a comparative study of housing policies in consolidated low-income settlements in nine countries (Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Mexico, Peru and Uruguay). more
CUSP 2013 Summer Internship
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May 23, 2013
The Wilson Center’s Comparative Urban Studies Project is seeking two summer interns to work on a new project, “Urban Resilience Project: Building Cities Safe and Smart.” The internships are paid positions, June-August 2013. Please see attached announcement for more information about the postion and instructions to apply. more
Metropolitan Governance in the Federalist Americas: Strategies for Equitable and Integrated Development
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May 28, 2013 // 2:00pm — 4:30pm
Authors present original research on metropolitan governance in Brazil Canada, Mexico, the United States, and Venezuela. more