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We are joined on the show today by Joe McReynolds, co-author of Emergent Tokyo: Designing the Spontaneous City, and we have an extensive conversation about the characteristics of Tokyo urbanism, the role of policy in the city, lessons that may be applied to charter cities, and also some of Joe's thoughts on China's current military capabilities. Joe makes a strong argument for avoiding culturally essentialist understandings of Tokyo, and also plots how the history of Tokyo eschews western understandings of urban planning strategies. We touch on the nature of Tokyo neighborhoods, rental and ownership, greenery and beautification, and much more. To finish off this fascinating chat, we turn to Joe's interest and involvement in Chinese affairs and reflect on the impact of the Russia-Ukraine conflict on China's ambitions. So to catch all this and more in this lively and eye-opening chat with Joe, press play! Key Points From This Episode: •   A look at Joe's two areas of expertise; urbanism in Tokyo and Chinese National security.  •   Joe unpacks the different forms of relevant urbanism. •   The complexity of Tokyo's urbanism and how it stretches typical western paradigms. •   The influence of policy and design on Tokyo and its neighborhoods. •   Norms around housing, upkeep, and building standards in Tokyo. •   Ownership and renting; Joe talks about the importance of landlords in Tokyo. •   Shinto practices and the traditions that subtly bind neighborhood communities. •   Tokyo residents' attitudes towards the external impacts on individual lifestyles. •   Joe's thoughts on greenery in Tokyo. •   Lessons from Tokyo for charter cities and Joe's passion for these projects.  •   The impact of international restrictions on semiconductor exports to China. •   Exploring the example that Russia's war with Ukraine is setting for China. •   Joe talks a little bit about Ephemerisle and its representation of competitive governance.     Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode: Joe McReynolds Joe McReynolds on Twitter Emergent Tokyo: Designing the Spontaneous City China's Evolving Military Strategy Keio University The Jamestown Foundation Ephemerisle Jeffrey Mason Kurtis Lockhart Charter Cities Institute Charter Cities Institute on Facebook

What do high education and low fertility rates have in common? According to today’s guest, Charlie Robertson, they are both positively correlated with economic growth. In today’s episode, Charlie shares the reasons why he believes that countries that don’t get their fertility rates down to below 3 children per woman and those that don’t have adult literacy rates above 70% are doomed to remain trapped in poverty. Join us for a round-the-world trip where Charlie delves into the history of South Asia, Sub-Saharan Africa, and the West, and offers his explanation for why some countries have flourished while others have floundered. Charlie is the Global Chief Economist at Renaissance Capital and the author of The Fastest Billion and The Time-Travelling Economist.   Key Points From This Episode:   •   Understanding economic trends in Africa over the past few years. •   Factors that lead to the creation of urban slums. •   Charlie’s hypothesis on the link between fertility and economic growth. •   What Charlie sees as the optimal fertility rate. •   Basic adult literacy rates in Sub-Saharan African countries when they were decolonized. •   A statistic that highlights the progress that has been made on the education front globally. •   Why education is imperative for growth. •   The correlation between education and fertility. •   The importance of correctly sequencing educational priorities. •   An explanation of the economic success being experienced in the Philippines. •   Comparing the rate of economic growth in India and China. •   Reasons why Pakistan hasn’t kept up with India’s levels of economic growth. •   Explaining Sri Lanka’s downfall. •   Charlie’s thoughts on the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor. •   The energy financing issues facing African countries. •   Challenges of using green energy as a baseload power source. •   Why Charlie believes governments should be focusing on providing electricity to factories rather than homes. •   Benefits of decentralized energy systems. •   The potential of municipal-level financing approaches.   Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:   Charlie Robertson on LinkedIn Renaissance Capital The Fastest Billion The Time-Travelling Economist Charter Cities Institute Charter Cities Institute on Facebook Charter Cities Institute on Twitter

The West’s misconceptions about Africa are vast, particularly when it comes to the realm of business. Today we are joined by Dr. Deanne de Vries, who has worked across the continent in various capacities for over 30 years. She is currently an advisor for firms looking to enter the African market and is the author of Africa: Open for Business. In this episode, Deanne fills us in on the challenges and the exciting opportunities for doing business in Africa, sharing insights into the evolving tech and startup scenes. We discuss Africa's agricultural and manufacturing sectors, and Deanne breaks down what governments need to do to boost these industries. To hear about the community-centric focus of African business and to find out why on-the-ground integrated local presence is far more valuable than any data, tune in! Key Points From This Episode: •   The history of Deanne de Vries’ work in Africa. •   The ABC of learning to do business in unfamiliar territory: Appetite, Bandwidth, and Capital. •   The evolution of the African tech scene. •   The focus of Africa’s startup scene. •   The potential for French-speaking West Africa to rise in the tech sector. •   What governments can do to boost agricultural productivity in Africa. •   The importance of access to the market, in terms of agriculture. •   The challenges faced by Africa’s manufacturing industry. •   Why African business can’t be judged by statistics alone. •   The number one key to success for doing business in Africa. •   Deanne shares a case study to illustrate the importance of being on the ground. •   The potential of the African Continental Free Trade Area to promote business in Africa. •   The greatest Western misunderstandings about doing business in Africa. •   The challenge of data accuracy across Africa. •   What trumps data when it comes to doing business. •   The number one way to de-risk any deal in Africa. •   Deanne shares her chocolate chip cookie story. •   The impact of China's increasing presence across the continent. •   The influence of Turkey, Russia, and the UAE on Africa. •   How best to think about market entry in Africa.    Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode: Dr. Deanne de Vries Dr. Deanne de Vries on LinkedIn Dr. Deanne de Vries on Instagram Africa: Open for Business Charter Cities Institute Charter Cities Institute on Facebook Charter Cities Institute on Twitter

If you’re a regular listener of this podcast you may be familiar with the term Special Economic Zone (SEZ). In short, SEZ refers to an area where business and trade laws are different from the rest of the country. Typically, these zones will have laws or legal codes and regulations that make it attractive for businesses to relocate there. Today on the show you’ll learn all about these zones and more as we sit down with Joseph McKinney, CEO of the Catawba Digital Economic Zone (DEZ), a new SEZ established by the Catawba nation based in the Carolinas. In our conversation, we break down the economic and philosophical objectives of the Catawba DEZ and its unique legal and regulatory frameworks as well as how this zone is integrated into tribal governance. We also discuss the Catawba DEZ’s special focus on FinTech, digital assets, advancing the digital economy, and why this gives them a competitive edge. Learn about the work they’re doing to explore physical infrastructure for data centers, supercomputers, and crypto mining, and why Joseph believes this has the most promising revenue-generating potential. Today’s episode takes a deep dive into SEZs and DEZs and breaks down how they can benefit indigenous people when implemented correctly, as well as what it takes to institute good governance. To learn more, make sure you tune in for key insights on this expansive and important topic!   Key Points From This Episode:   ●     Get to know today’s guest, Joseph McKinney, his background, and how he became CEO at Catawba Digital Economic Zone (DEZ). ●     An overview of the Startup Societies Network and how it was founded. ●     A breakdown of DEZs and how they work. ●     The regulatory advantages of DEZs. ●     The authority that Native Americans have within their states and how that applies to regulatory governance. ●     How DEZs are creating a middle ground for tribal governance and regulation. ●     How the Catawba tribe benefits from the DEZ in the Carolinas. ●     Some of the physical infrastructure that they’re expecting to create, including data centers and supercomputers. ●     An overview of how the Catawba Digital Economic Zone is creating regulatory certainty for Web3, crypto, blockchain, and fintech companies. ●     How digital economic zones are expected to fit into existing trends within the tech industry. ●     The most important value proposition made by the Catawba DEZ. ●     Why this type of SEZ needs a combination of startup culture mobility, along with a secure foundation of good governance. ●     How special economic zones are helping the United States improve its business environment. ●     How the Catawba DEZ in the Carolinas, hopes to compete with Delaware.   Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:   Joseph McKinney on LinkedIn Startup Societies Network Catawba Digital Economic Zone Forbes: This Indian Nation Is Setting Up A Special Economic Zone For Crypto,...

Stefan Dercon is the author of Gambling on Development, in which he details his theory of the elite bargain framework for development in low-income countries. Stefan is a Professor of Economic Policy at the University of Oxford, and also serves as the Director of the Center for the Study of African Economies. Prior to his current academic posts, he has extensive experience in the world of policy, as the Chief Economist at the Department for International Development and as an advisor to the UK’s Foreign Secretary. In our conversation with Stefan in today's show, we get to delve deep into his elite bargain idea, the impact of effective altruism, the need for self-awareness within governments, and how far lessons from certain examples can be applied to other states. We also get to talk about political settlements and how his framework fits into the context of current popular theories and explanations for economic growth. So to catch all this and a whole lot more, be sure to listen in to this great chat with Stefan Dercon! Key Points From This Episode: •   Stefan's perspective on the different skills needed for policy implementation and idea generation. •   The challenges of communicating the need for policy experimentation to politicians. •   Some key ingredients to effective government meetings and common mistakes that Stefan has seen. •   Examples from Stefan of the kind of practical implementations he has seen used well in governance.  •   Stefan shares some examples that underline his book's main thesis about successful development. •   An approach to determining a country's emerging development bargain. •   Our guest unpacks the three conditions for development bargains noted in his book. •   Why a certain model for development cannot be expected to have the same success in a different context. •   The impact that studying Asia later in his career has had on Stefan's frameworks and philosophy. •   Stefan talks about his findings on possible lessons from urbanization in China. •   Issues that Stefan has with the idea and terminology of political settlements. •   Contrasting Stefan's argument with the thesis of Why Nations Fail. •   Suggestions on how to motivate elites to engage and gamble on development.   •   Stefan's personal perspective on economic growth and its role in poverty alleviation.  •   Why meaningful progress is dependent on a certain amount of risk.  •   How Stefan would suggest spending money on growth interventions and lessons from Africa in the 1990s.  •   What the situation in Sri Lanka right now teaches us about investment in people. •   The danger of consolidating authoritarianism in countries such as China and Rwanda. •   How the mobility of a burgeoning middle class can impact the development of a state.  •   Stefan weighs in on the potential scalability problem in a technocracy. •   Some of Stefan's reflections on his time at DFID and its challenges. •   Looking to the horizon with Stefan and his forthcoming projects.     Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode: Stefan Dercon Gambling on Development

Development is one of the major challenges of our time. Unfortunately, it’s often approached in a way that does more harm than good. Efosa Ojomo has a better solution, and he’s here today to share it. Efosa is the leader of the Global Prosperity Research Group at the Clayton Christensen Institute for Disruptive Innovation, the co-author of The Prosperity Paradox, and the author of the upcoming book, The Prosperity Process. In this episode, Efosa explains how his first foray in the development space (building wells in Nigeria) catalyzed a journey of discovery which led him to realize that, in order to truly change the world, we need to implement pull strategies instead of push strategies and focus on market creating innovations. He shares some examples of what these innovations look like and we discuss what it takes to be a market creating innovator, how regulation impacts innovation, a new way to think about corruption, and more! Make sure to tune in today.   Key Points From This Episode:   •  The lesson Efosa learned through his first foray in the development world. •  Definitions of the three types of innovation that Efosa and his co-authors explain in depth in their book, The Prosperity Paradox. •  Efosa shares the story of Mo Ibrhaim to highlight the power of market creating innovations. •  Push versus pull development strategies and the problem with the former. •  The story of Indomie Noodles as an example of the huge amount of change that can be made through the implementation of a pull strategy. •  How a proliferation of government agencies negatively impacts a country’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. •  The type of person who is best suited to be a leader in the market creating innovation space. •  Aid for developing countries: how the approach needs to change. •  Efosa explains why good laws are not enough to create thriving communities. •  Key factors that resulted in the rise and fall of Venice. •  How Efosa believes we should be tackling the issue of corruption. •  A tribute to Clayton Christenson. •  The Prosperity Process; Efosa’s future book.     Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:   Efosa Ojomo Efosa Ojomo on Twitter Global Prosperity Research Group at the Clayton Christensen Institute for Disruptive Innovation The Prosperity Paradox Mo Ibrahim Gambling on Development Yuen Yuen Ang Why Nations Fail The Innovator's Dilemma

Dr. Jared Rubin is the co-author of How the World Became Rich: The Historical Origins of Economic Growth, which he wrote with Mark Koyama, a previous guest on the podcast. We are so happy to welcome Jared to the show today to discuss the thesis of his book, and what he and Mark aimed to add to the literature on the subject of economic growth in the contemporary context. This is a fascinating and thoughtful conversation, packed with insight and nuance on important arguments of the past, what is needed to broaden and enhance our understanding of economic growth, and how far these projects might go towards enabling us to see a better future. Dr. Rubin answers some questions about geographic, legal, and technological explanations for growth, and stresses the importance of synergy and interplay between these theories for a more illuminating picture. So to hear all this and a whole lot more, including many reasons to pick up his latest book, tune in today!   Key Points From This Episode:   •   Introducing the role of culture in economic growth, and tracing the roots of this inquiry. •   Positioning How the World Became Rich in the lineage of literature on the subject of growth.  •   Looking at England and the emergence of modern growth; arguments over the most important factors. •   Why Dr. Rubin tried to bring different theories into conversation through writing this book. •   Unpacking the argument for the role of liberal speech norms in the history of development, proposed by McCloskey. •   Technological progress and geographic endowments; why this relationship is worth exploration. •   Dr. Rubin's perspective on the role of law and legal systems in the growth trajectory of a country. •   Discussing the relative slowing of growth in the Western world and what this may mean. •   Dr. Rubin briefly comments on an argument for total factor productivity growth being linear. •   Thoughts on big picture topics through a micro lens. •   The lessons we can take from history for the most impactful policies for growth in the future.     Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:   Dr. Jared Rubin Chapman University How the World Became Rich: The Historical Origins of Economic Growth Dr. Jared Rubin on Twitter Mark Koyama Charter Cities Podcast Episode 16 with Mark Koyama Robert Lucas Joel Mokyr Culture of Growth Joe...

China’s presence in Africa is widely speculated upon (and wildly misunderstood). Joining us today to speak to the truth of the matter is Sinologist-Africanist Professor of International Development at Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies, Deborah Brautigam. Deborah is also the Director of the China Africa Research Initiative (CARI) and author of Will Africa Feed China? and, more famously, The Dragon’s Gift: The Real Story of China in Africa. In this episode, she shares her nuanced perspective on the Chinese development model and aid program in Africa and how the rise of NGOs has shifted the nature of aid, in general. We discuss the role of aid as a geopolitical instrument and the differences in the ways China and the West approach the funding of infrastructure in Africa. We learn about Chinese loans versus commoditized loans, the lessons China has learned through its various endeavors, and the lessons Deborah suspects it is yet to learn. Tune in to hear more about the balance of ensuring sustainability and respecting sovereignty, what’s causing the decline in Chinese infrastructure lending, and where China’s focus has turned since the pandemic. Key Points From This Episode: •   Deborah Brautigam’s interest in the Chinese development model and aid program in Africa. •   The argument of her first book, Will Africa Feed China? •   The problems Western aid projects have faced. •   How the rise of NGOs has shifted the nature of aid. •   The accountability structure of China in Africa. •   Aid as a geopolitical instrument. •   The two primary sources of finance for infrastructure in Africa: China and the bond markets. •   The Japanese Goa formula and its impact on Chinese aid practices today. •   How Chinese commodity-backed aid differs from that of Western entities. •   Zambia’s privatization of their copper mines. •   Why commoditized loans have a bad reputation. •   The advantage Chinese loans have over commoditized loans. •   Competitive bidding and external supervision of Chinese infrastructure in Angola. •   China’s reasons for supporting the developing world in the 60s and 70s: to support socialism and wrest diplomatic recognition away from Taipei and towards Beijing. •   The lessons China took from undertaking the Tanzam railway project in the 70s. •   Tazara Syndrome: the pride of funding projects nobody else wants to fund. •   The art of project appraisal and how to minimize risk in demand projections. •   China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). •   The balance between ensuring the sustainability of aid projects and respecting sovereignty. •   How political interests undermine the ability of state-owned enterprises to be sustainable. •   The specialization and division of labor between China and the West. •   The Western profit model of new urban agglomerations. •   The misguided New Yorker report on debt-trap diplomacy in Sri Lanka. •   Reasons for the recent decline in Chinese infrastructure spending. •   China’s plans to focus on local infrastructure. •   Various views on China's motives amongst policymakers. •   Deborah’s book recommendations pertaining to Chinese issues.   Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode: Deborah...

Dr. Linda Colley is a leading expert on British imperial and global history, among other topics in British history. Dr. Colley is the M.C. Davis 1958 Professor of History at Princeton University, here today to discuss her newly published book, The Gun, The Ship, and the Pen: Warfare, Constitutions and the Making of the Modern World, which explores the complex interrelationship between the rise of modern warfare and the rise of modern constitutionalism worldwide. After introducing Dr. Colley, and discussing the themes of her book, we launch into a conversation about what drove her to research and write about the topic of constitutions across the globe. Hear about the brief period during 1653 when Britain had its own constitution, before Dr. Colley unpacks the role of printing press technology and the spread of literacy, and explains why building the French navy helped the American revolutionaries, but not the French monarchy. We address Toussaint’s two purposes for the constitutions, which unfolds into a discussion about the extent to which constitutions are not just a domestic tool, but serve an international purpose, with Tunisia as one of our examples. Hear how Japan’s constitution has worked to concede certain rights for its people, learn about James Beale’s vision for governance and modernization, and much more. Tune in for an in-depth discussion on the ever-evolving role of this fascinating type of document today.   Key Points From This Episode:   •   Today’s guest, Dr. Linda Colley, expert on British imperial and global history. •   Themes explored in her newly published book, The Gun, The Ship, and the Pen. •   The brief period during 1653 when Britain had its own constitution. •   What moved her to write about global constitutions and their interpretations. •   The constitution drafted in Philadelphia in 1787’s role in influencing the rest of the globe. •   Mechanics of the relationship between war, revolution, and the emergence of constitutions. •   How the spread of literacy and printing presses facilitated codified constitutions. •   Why building the French navy helped the American revolutionaries, but not the French monarchy. •   Toussaint’s two purposes for the constitutions: to eradicate slavery in Haiti, and make it known to France that this is the case. •   The extent to which constitutions are not just a domestic tool, but a play for international legitimacy. •   Tunisia’s different approach to constitution making. •   How Japan’s constitution has worked to concede certain rights for its people. •   James Beale’s vision for governance and modernization. •   The evolution and plateau of the role and rights of women in society. •   Observing the link to the pressures of war within global constitutions. •   How Thomas Paine’s military service impacted his views, and how actual military service influences constitution makers in general. •   Catherine the Great in Russia and Bolivar in South America, and their constitutional influence. •   Tacit borrowings from the British model, and ultra-plagiarism in Norway. •   The best practices approach that can be pulled from all of these methods. •   How constant borrowing results in a final text that is distinct for each...

Today’s episode is a bonus episode, where we take a deep dive into the Italian Renaissance (with a focus on Venice) with world-renowned expert, Professor Corey Tazzara. From the fall of the Roman Empire to the formation of independent city-states, to the financial and political ramifications of the crusades, to the rise and fall of Venice as an economic powerhouse, this conversation has it all! We start at the beginning, with a comment on the role of the Middle Ages in the formation of society as it is today, and how the literature of the times contributed to the maintenance of the Roman Empire as a power. Despite this, there was decentralization across Europe in the 800s, and independent city-states arose. Rome regained its power from tourism and through regaining the seat of the papacy, while Florence formed the birthplace of the Renaissance through its art, culture, and adoption of investment banking. Milan became an authoritarian state, and we hear how the condottieri contributed to this. Unexpectedly, Genoa gained wealth in the loss of the War of Chioggia, while Venice was created from the marshes by refugees. The focus of the conversation shifts to the role of Venice in the Renaissance, and how it influenced society as we see it today. We learn how venture capital was created to profit from the Crusades, and how links to other cultures and societies benefitted the trade between Venice and the rest of Europe and the Middle East. Tune in to find out how the Venice of today differs from the Renaissance era Venice, and so much more, in this incredible discussion!   Key Points From This Episode:   •   Welcome to Corey Tazzara, professor of history at Scripps College and the world’s leading expert on medieval and early modern freeports. •   Background into the decentralization of the Roman Empire, and why we owe today’s society to the Middle Ages. •   How the literature of the Middle ages maintains the Roman Empire’s power. •   The formation of independent city-states across Europe, and how they worked. •   The role of the papacy in reviving Roman law. •   What the 12th Century Renaissance is, and how it impacted the European economy. •   How the crusades altered the trade done at the port city-states: sea vs land travel. •   Why the Fourth Crusade was the first example of venture capital. •   The radical democracies that started in the Byzantine era across Italy. •   A quick tour of the major houses at play across the city-states in the 1300s. •   The revival of Rome: from the center of an empire to a tourism hotspot. •   How Florence became a republic, and why Corey feels it is the birthplace of the Renaissance. •   Why the adoption of investment banking fueled Florence’s prosperity and the rise of the Medici family. •   Turning to Genoa: how the loss of the War of Chioggia lead to the gain of Western wealth in the centuries to come. •   The role of the condottieri in Milan’s authoritarian government and war-based economy. •   Who Francesco Sforza was, and how he served as an example of the dangers of the condottieri to political powers. •   A few honorable mentions of other city-states that had tumultuous histories throughout the Renaissance. •   The formation of Venice: how it was formed, and why its history is so different from other city-states. •   The story of St. Mark’s remains, why Mussolini hated the church of San Marco, and what these anecdotes say about Venice. •   Why Venice is the birthplace of investment banking and its role in the Fourth...

The Ukraine-Russia conflict has dominated headlines over the past few months, with countless theories and hypotheses being touted to explain Russia’s aggression. Join us as we talk to one of the world’s leading experts on violence and politics, Professor Chris Blattman. We start the episode with an explanation of why Chris chose to write his latest book Why We Fight: The Roots of War and the Paths to Peace, and how he can apply the logic within to explain Putin's motivations and behavior. We learn why peace is a better driver for innovation and competition than war, and what Chris feels about the controversial observations made by John Mearsheimer about the Ukraine-Russia conflict. Tune in to learn what the George Washington example is, and the role of the COVID-19 pandemic in the rising levels of violence within the USA. We next move on to the role of CBT in reducing violence across the globe, with some insightful examples of Mr. Rogers-like personas across Africa who Chris has worked with. This episode is jam-packed with tons of fascinating insights into current affairs, how to best tackle poverty, theoretical debate and so much more. Join us today as we talk to a true role model and thought leader on another episode of the Charter Cities podcast.   Key Points From This Episode:   •   An introduction to Chris Blattman, author, economist, political scientist, expert on violence, and seasoned peacebuilder. •   The inspiration behind why Chris wrote Why We Fight: The Roots of War and the Paths to Peace. •   Chris’s response to John Mearsheimer’s observations on the Ukraine-Russia conflict. •   Why Chris is content that his book was published before Russia invaded Ukraine. •   The five logics of war applied to the Ukraine-Russia conflict: unchecked interests, intangible incentives, uncertainty, commitment problems, and misperceptions. •   Why Chris feels that peace drives competition and innovation better than war. •   The George Washington example: what it means and how it can be applied to other situations. •   Why Chris is interested in applying Machiavellian logic to his research and blogging. •   How the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted levels of violence within the USA, and why. •   Why the Mr. Rogers principle is so effective, and examples Chris has come across in other countries. •   CBT and how it can be applied to reduce poverty. •   The monetary values associated with CBT across different cultures. •   Why oversimplifying complex problems is bad for the solution, and why including locals in the solution is key to success. •   An example of one of Chris’ RCTs that failed! •   Why Chris feels that he might have had a larger impact on society if he had moved into consulting in Africa. •   The factors that helped to make the Harris School the success it is today. •   Why Chris thinks giving cash is more effective at reducing poverty than other interventions. •   How decentralizing power will be the ultimate solution to poverty. •   Chris’s thoughts on the Charter Cities Institute and goals. •   Where Chris is now, and the issues he will be researching in the next five years.     Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:   Chris Blattman on LinkedIn Chris Blattman

In order to build the cities of the future, there is a need for synergy between a number of elements and institutions and, as philanthropy evolves with the times, an active approach to impacting the necessary changes means an understanding of these sometimes disparate forces. Joining us on the show today to discuss his philanthropic philosophy and plans is the Founder of GitLab, Sid Sijbrandij. Sid is also a supporter of the Charter Cities Institute while occupying an active role in the nutrition, software, crypto, and non-profits spaces. Today, he generously shares his thoughts on what is needed right now in order to push things forward for the next generation of cities. We discuss GitLab’s approach to helping Ukraine and their contingent of employees who live in the country and we touch on what needs attention in the longer term, especially with regards to bridging gaps between separate industries or institutions for shared benefit before Sid shares his thoughts on how AI will influence philanthropy in the coming years and what he hopes to see in the cities of the future. To hear all this and much more from a very special guest, join us on Seeding the Future! Key Points From This Episode: •   GitLab's current focus on helping Ukraine and its employees stationed there. •   The role of new technology in providing aid for Ukraine. •   Motivations for Sid's philanthropy and how he frames his efforts.  •   Creative opportunities presented by remote work and new cities. •   Considering the different avenues through which Sid explores impacting positive change. •   Sid's thoughts on where new wealth might go and how innovation can lead to impact. •   Areas that could be improved upon; bringing together wisdom from different spaces.    •   The things that Sid looks for when assessing a new team or organization to work with. •   AI and philanthropy in the 21st century; Sid weighs in on where we are headed.  •   What happens when money transfers between generations and how it impacts philanthropy. •   Sid's predictions about the geography of wealth and giving. •   Transparency and opinions in a big company; why Sid stands by this model. •   Amenities that Sid values in the charter cities of the future. •   Factors that would have a positive influence on philanthropic involvement in charter cities.  •   The excitement that Sid holds for longer-term projects.  •   Important questions in the discussion on the future of philanthropy. •   Balancing the roles of the state and philanthropic institutions for public goods.   Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode: Sid Sijbrandij on Twitter GitLab GiveWell John Arnold Lions Rotary Banksy Caroline Whistler

Welcome to Seeding the Future, a podcast from the Charter Cities Institute, where we explore how giving and philanthropy are changing as wealth is created in new industries, at younger ages, and by more diverse demographics. In this inaugural epode, we hear from John Arnold, American philanthropist, former Enron executive, and Founder of Arnold Ventures, about philanthropy for policy change. John hit it big trading natural gas in the 1990s and 2000s, going on to found one of the most successful energy trading hedge funds, Centaurus Energy, after leaving Enron. He now ranks as one of the world's richest people, with a net worth well over a billion dollars, and runs Arnold Ventures (formerly the Laura and John Arnold Foundation) with his wife, an organization doing groundbreaking work in criminal justice reform. Today, John shares how education reform, system design, and public policy inform his giving and some of the challenges he has encountered in advocating for policy. We discuss political polarization, crypto wealth, and their impact on philanthropy and John shares his interesting perspective on nonprofits as third parties that can solve problems in areas that governments and the private sector can’t, plus so much more! Make sure not to miss this conversation with the billionaire philanthropist taking on criminal justice reform, John Arnold. Key Points From This Episode: •   How education reform, system design, and public policy have informed John’s philanthropy. •   What his strategy for impact entails when it comes to advocating for policy. •   Major changes John has witnessed in philanthropy, including a shift to ‘giving while living’. •   Bridging the gap between founders and the nonprofit world with patience and commitment. •   Why John believes nonprofits need to be more direct with donors. •   Challenges that come with advocating for policy, particularly in the criminal justice space. •   Political polarization and philanthropy; what role nonprofits can play in voting reform. •   How decentralized crypto wealth will impact the philanthropy of the future. •   Global conflict resolution efforts and why organizations have lost momentum in this area. •   Finding problems that philanthropy can solve by looking in areas that are too politically or financially risky for the government or the private sector. •   John’s thoughts on the disconnect between philanthropic intent and philanthropic action. •   The inherent flaws of donor-advised funds that the ACE Act seeks to solve. •   Why John is impressed by philanthropic efforts in the climate change space. •   Why he encourages founders, philanthropists, and nonprofits not to wait until tomorrow. •   How to address the issue of connecting nonprofits with donors and vice versa.   Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode: John D. Arnold on Twitter Arnold Ventures ‘Against Big Bets’ Charter Cities Institute Skye Lawrence on LinkedIn

Across the global south, cities are growing outwards instead of upwards. Talking to us today about why this is a bad thing for commuters, is urban planning researcher Heba Elhanafy. We dive into the episode with an overview of what the newly released planning guidelines cover, and how new city making has evolved. We hear about the three topics the planning guidelines tackle (how the global south builds, what works, and what doesn't work), and why a single developer working on a city is less effective than multiple developers and shareholders. Heba breaks down the benefits of building bottom-up, instead of top-down, and describes what developers can expect to learn from the planning guidelines. We also hear about two examples of urban planning done right: the Manhattan example, and the much smaller scale Ethiopian Urban Expansion initiative. Tune in to learn how communities help the expansion and growth of a development, and how planning a city can help lift people out of poverty. We wrap up the episode with some of Heba's personal experiences of traffic living in cities across the global south, and why she believes a new model needs to be implemented. So, for all this and so much more, press “Play” now!   Key Points From This Episode:   •   Welcome to today’s guest, urban researcher Heba Elhanafy. •   What the newly released planning guidelines cover. •   How new city-making has changed over time. •   The three topics the planning guide looks at: how the global south builds, what works, and what doesn’t work. •   Why one developer building a city is a bad idea. •   The benefits of building bottom-up, instead of top-down. •   How planning can assist chartering cities that lift people out of poverty. •   Why the planning guidelines will help developers. •   An example of the Ethiopian Urban Expansion Initiative. •   Understanding that communities will help with the expansion and growth of a development. •   The Manhattan example, as a large-scale example. •   Enhancing mobility within a city, and the benefits to workers. •   Why building up is better than building out.   Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:   Heba Elhanafy on LinkedIn Charter Cities Institute Charter Cities Institute on Facebook Charter Cities Institute on Twitter

In January 2020, the Building Better, Building Beautiful Commission published ‘Living with beauty’, a report that has led to a new national design guide and model design code with changes to the national policy. The policy changes replaced the word ‘good design’ with ‘beauty’, but is there more to beauty than just appearance? Joining us to discuss the beautification of urban spaces today is Dr. Samuel Hughes, a Senior Fellow at Policy Exchange, a Research Fellow in Philosophy, Theology, and Religion at Oxford University, and a frequent commentator on issues ranging from architecture and urbanism to aesthetics. He was also Sir Roger Scruton's researcher on the Building Beautiful Commission. His focus at Policy Exchange is on understanding why the quantity and quality of new homes and neighborhoods is so inadequate in the UK and developing policy instruments to improve them. In this episode, we discuss the consideration of aesthetics in the urban planning process, the concept of beauty as a benchmark that all new developments should meet, and how empowering residents to design their own streets can help solve the housing crisis that the UK is currently facing. We also touch on survivorship bias; data, technology, and aesthetics; and the cost of suburbia, as well as the positive and negative aspects of path dependency, and more! Make sure to join us today for a fascination conversation about the ‘new’ urban aesthetic with Dr. Samuel Hughes. Key Points From This Episode: •   How Samuel’s philosophy studies have influenced his views on urbanism and architecture. •   His reflections on the role that aesthetics or ‘beauty’ plays in UK urban planning debates. •   How the win-win model for ‘street votes’ impacts the future of UK cities. •   Samuel describes what he calls a bobtailed version of street votes in Houston, Texas. •   Why he believes we find older buildings more attractive than contemporary architecture. •   Survivorship bias versus loss of skills necessary to replicate ‘more beautiful’ architecture. •   The appetite that fueled the dramatic shift in architectural style post WWI, and gave birth to Brutalism, for example. •   Samuel shares why he believes that architects tend to make bad urban planners. •   How modern simulation and design technology have changed the built environment. •   The role empirical data plays in influencing the aesthetics of the built environment. •   While he doesn’t share the contempt for suburbia that many of his peers have, Samuel acknowledges that it imposes enormous costs. •   What the west can learn about architecture and urban form from places like Japan. •   German architecture as an example of path dependency as a positive and negative force. •   Samuel’s advice for building a new city: design institutional structures in cities that will allow those cities to evolve over time. •   Learn more about Samuel’s book on philosophical approaches to artistic modernism.   Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode: Dr. Samuel Hughes Dr. Samuel Hughes on LinkedIn Dr. Samuel Hughes on Twitter Policy Exchange

Joining us in conversation today is Scott Beyer, the Founder and CEO of the Market Urbanism Report, a media company dedicated to advancing the free market’s classically liberal approach to urban issues. Tune in to hear Scott’s definition of market urbanism and how it relates to the traditional free market. He describes how his audience varies drastically from a partisan and ideological perspective and tells us why this happens, before highlighting cities across the world that embody aspects of his vision for market urbanism and talking about how private cities around the world implement liberalization. We touch on how market urbanism’s approach to zoning differs from the Euclidean model, speak about MTRs, and delve into the history of transportation with a focus on the railway. Scott points us toward an article he penned with the hypothesis that introducing open access competition can serve to benefit inner city rail, before getting into other areas of infrastructure and why smaller governments often get it right. You’ll also hear about construction, quasi-public housing, and Scott’s predictions for how crypto will impact how cities are run. Join us to hear all this and more today! Key Points From This Episode:   •   An introduction to today’s guest, Scott Beyer. •   What market urbanism is and what the Market Urbanism Report involves. •   The relationship between the market urbanist and the traditional free market communities. •   How Scott’s audience varies drastically from a partisan and ideological perspective. •   Why this happens: people who like the urbanism aspect tend to be on the left, and then the people who like the market aspect tend to be on the right. •   His opinion that no city in the US perfectly embodies market urbanism. •   Free market oriented transit in Mexico City: Peseros or Jitneys. •   The incentive that the Singaporean government has put in place to build housing. •   How private cities around the world implement liberalization, for example, Gurgaon, India. •   How market urbanism zoning differs from the kind of zoning we have now. •   The differentiation that the Euclidean model necessitates in comparison to the market urbanism model. •   Shoup-piling and how Scott would go about this as someone who writes for the public. •   MTRs relationship with zoning regulations. •   The history of transportation and how the railway began to really struggle. •   “Open Access” Competition Can Improve Intercity Rail, the article he recently co-authored. •   His views on what is possible in terms of creating open access competition for intercity rail. •   How the private sector creates a barrier to entry in terms of infrastructure. •   Why the smaller government spend on infrastructure is usually wiser than the federal government. •   What cross laminated timber is and how it is useful for the future of construction. •   Why he isn’t completely opposed to the idea of public or quasi-public housing. •   His predictions for the impact of cryptocurrency on how cities are operated in the future. •   What Municipal Utility Districts are and how they impact housing and urban development. •   Scott weighs in on what needs to be in place within a state for market urbanism to take off. •   The world tour he is doing for research...

Today’s guest is Ed Glaeser, a Professor of Economics at Harvard University, and he joins us to talk about urbanization and urban planning. Ed has written, or co-authored several books, including The Triumph of The City, and more recently, Survival of the City: Living and Thriving in an Age of Isolation, published this year with David Cutler. Our conversation begins on the subject of the rapid urbanization of parts of the developing world such as India and Sub-Saharan Africa. We explore what lessons can be learned in this regard from the urbanization of Latin America in the 1960s. Our exchange moves to touch on ways of urbanizing without industrialization or via services rather than manufacturing. Shifting onto the topic of urban governance, we hear Ed’s thoughts on the 15-minute city concept, how to overcome political constraints to construction such as vetocracy, and how to push back against cars when they stand as status symbols to the newly rich. We also get into why the schools in big US cities are failing and how to deal with the rising carbon emissions that come as developing countries urbanize. We then talk about COVID-related challenges to productivity and the supply chain, before wrapping up on the subject of whether charter cities are a way of experimenting with pro-entrepreneurship institutions. Key Points From This Episode: •   The lessons to be learned from Latin America’s urbanization regarding transport and more. •   Countries that have become urbanized without being industrialized. •   The connection between urbanization and moving out of poverty. •   Perspectives on manufacturing versus service-led paths toward transformation. •   Whether there is a distinction between urban migrants who arrive due to ‘pull’ versus ‘push’ factors. •   Ed’s thoughts on whether secondary cities can be as productive as primary ones. •   The contrast between entrepreneurship and poor living conditions in Mumbai’s Dharavi slum. •   Under which conditions private provision (PPP) works best and worst. •   What we can learn from large urban infrastructure projects built in the 1970s. •   Whether there are examples of cities that are good at combatting vetocracy. •   The leaders behind cities that have experienced massive urbanization. •   Why Ed thinks the 15-minute city is a dead-end concept but agrees with some aspects of it. •   How to push back against environmentally damaging status symbols for the newly rich as a planner. •   The factors that contribute to suburbanization and whether China is headed that way. •   How to deal with the rising carbon emissions that come as developing countries urbanize. •   Why large cities in the US are failing on the schooling front and Ed’s thoughts on a solution. •   Ed’s thoughts on a land-grant university model in developing countries. •   How to grapple with current COVID-related supply chain challenges. •   Productivity after social distancing in light of the connection between density and productivity. •   Why London and New York are still the only truly global cities. •   Whether charter cities are a way of experimenting with pro-entrepreneurship institutions.   Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode: Ed Glaeser National Bureau of Economic...

“The North American development pattern, the way we build our cities, creates a lot of liabilities and not enough wealth, financially, to actually take care of those liabilities.” These are the words of today’s guest Charles “Chuck” Marohn. Chuck is the founder and president of Strong Towns, as well as a professional engineer and land use planner with decades of experience. He is also the author of Strong Towns: A Bottom-Up Revolution to Rebuild American Prosperity and Confessions of a Recovering Engineer. In this episode, Chuck sheds light on how the way in which we build our cities has drastically changed since before the Great Depression and how the current North American development pattern creates towns and cities that lack the wealth to be able to maintain their critical infrastructure and take care of their own futures. Tuning in you’ll hear how the problems of Ferguson, Missouri can be attributed to this pattern, how northeastern cities compare with southwestern cities based on their development since World War II, and why Chuck has more hope for the future of Detroit than the future of Phoenix. For an eye-opening conversation on how we need to adapt in order to build strong towns, tune in today! Key Points From This Episode: •   Charles “Chuck” Marohn explains how Strong Towns is both an organization and a movement. •   How the North American development pattern creates towns and cities that are unable to take care of their own futures. •   Why Chuck believes that the way cities grow today has a Ponzi scheme-like aspect to it. •   Thoughts on what percentage of the liabilities are covered by Wall Street capital versus state and federal. •   How northeastern cities compare with southwestern cities based on their development since World War II. •   Ferguson, Missouri as an example of a once affluent area that has aged and is experiencing this distress. •   How the way in which we build our cities has drastically changed since the pre-Great Depression. •   Why Chuck is excited about the neighborhoods in Detroit where they are reusing old buildings instead of tearing them down. •   The concept of the Paris 15-minute city and what Chuck likes about it. •   Thoughts on other countries that have copied the North American development pattern. •   A comparison between the development styles of cities in the Netherlands versus those of Belgium and why the cities in the Netherlands are doing better. •   What we can learn from Amsterdam transitioning from a car-centric environment to a pedestrian and bicycle-centric environment. •   What we should expect southwestern American cities like Phoenix to look like in 30 years. •   What Chuck would do if building a new town or a new city from scratch. •   The lesson we can learn from the shift from the 20th century to the 21st century.  •   Thoughts on Manhattan’s framework for development. •   The concept of a “good party” and why the ratio of private to public investment is more important than the density ratio. •   Chuck’s thoughts on the YIMBY movement. •   Insight into what became of civil engineering. •   Thoughts on why the local Government has become so ineffective and so overburdened. •   What it means to build a Strong Towns movement and what we can expect from it over the next 5 to 10 years.   Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Because of the pervasive media coverage of Trumpism, Brexit, and the like, it is easy to assume that the dominant sentiment around the world is that mass migration is a new and terrifying phenomenon that could upend the world as we know it. However, that couldn’t be further from the truth, and we’ve brought Parag Khanna, founder of FutureMap, to explain why. Not only has most of the world remained pragmatic about the topic, but mass migration has been occurring for decades, and although there are some exceptions, in the majority of cases, societies have absorbed the newcomers and the newcomers have assimilated remarkably well. Parag is an Asian-American who has also lived in Europe, and his personal perspective combined with the in-depth research that he has conducted around migration, sustainability, community, governance, citizenship and more, reveals a lot about what drives us to do the things we do, and offers a glimpse of what our future could look like.   Key Points From This Episode:   •   Parag shares his thoughts on why the US should (hypothetically) buy Greenland. •   The premise of Parag’s new book, Move. •   Two megatrends that are currently shaping the world. •   Four potential futures that Parag thinks we are heading for. •   Immigration policies in the UK, US, and Canada, and what these indicate about the future. •   Changes in migration dynamics since Parag’s school days, and what is driving those changes. •   The sentiment amongst European politicians about migrants that Parag has picked up through his research. •   How societies have historically dealt with mass migration. •   High volumes of migration that take place in East and South-East Asia. •   Value that lies in having civilizational confidence. •   Parag explains how Germany is breaking open the definition of what German-ness is. •   A brief analysis of the migration situation in the UAE. •   Primary factors which motivate the migration of Western expats. •   The nuanced nature of citizenship. •   Sustainability, mobility, and connectivity from the perspective of the youth of today, and Parag’s opinion on where these ideas emerged from. •   How definitions of community have changed, and how they are changing now. •   The important role that cities are going to play in coming migrations. •   Parag explains what the mobile real estate phenomenon is, and what is driving it. •   Why Parag does not think de-urbanization is a major trend, although it is being talked about as if it is. •   Plans that Parag has for the future.   Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:   Parag Khanna Future Map Charter Cities Institute Charter Cities Institute on Facebook Charter Cities Institute on Twitter

At the beginning of 2021 Lauri Haav altered his career path from the world of tech startups to the realm of government. This might sound like an incongruous move, but the Estonian government is more advanced than most countries in terms of its level of digitization and its embracing of technology, and Lauri is currently running a program which is the first of its kind. Almost 7 years ago Estonia launched their e-Residency program; this means that almost anyone, almost anywhere in the world, can become an e-resident of Estonia. Currently, if e-residents were a city, they would be the third biggest city in Estonia! If you’re wondering why obtaining an Estonian e-ID card is an appealing option, you’ll get all the answers in today’s episode. We also discuss the various reasons why the Estonian government is so ahead of the curve in terms of digitization, how they have assisted their population in making the transition to digital platforms as seamless as possible, challenges that they have experienced, and what they hope to achieve in the coming years.   Key Points From This Episode: •   Estonia’s advanced level of digitization, and what their e-Residency program is. •   Lauri shares what his professional background in the tech space consisted of. •   Similarities and differences between working in technology companies and working for government organizations. •   Factors that resulted in the Estonian government’s early embrace of the internet. •   How Estonia’s approach to electronic ID cards differs to most other European countries. •   Lauri explains the mechanics of an E-ID card. •   Estimated percentages of the Estonian population who make use of Estonia’s various E-platforms. •   Ways that Estonia ensures their e-Platforms are secure and their approach to privacy. •   How the Estonian government attracts talent to its technology department. •   Some examples which highlight the constraints of some traditional procurement processes. •   The value of working in different types of organizations. •   Challenges that come with the growth of an organization or department. •   An e-Government program that was drastically accelerated as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. •   Two main reasons that people will sign up for the Estonian e-Residency program. •   The percentage of new businesses in Estonia over the past 3 years that are owned by e-Residents. •   How the government is going to determine whether or not the e-Residency program is beneficial to Estonia. •   Technology that underpins key public infrastructure in Estonia. •   Countries which are following in Estonia’s footsteps, and how Lauri feels about this. •   Lauri shares his opinion on the work being done by Propsera. •   How being an EU member affects Estonia’s e-Residency program.   Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:  Lauri Haav on LinkedIn Charter Cities Institute Charter Cities Institute on Facebook Charter Cities Institute on Twitter