2013年-世界发展银行全球_Toward_an_Urban_Sector_Strategy___Georgias_Evolving_Urban_System_and_its_Challenges_68页_3mb

Georgia Urbanization Review Summary

Core Content

The Georgia Urbanization Review (GUR) is a comprehensive analysis of the country's urban development since independence in 1991. It evaluates the economic and demographic changes that have occurred as Georgia transitioned from a planned to a market economy and from a rural to an urban economy. The report emphasizes the need for a coordinated and strategic approach to urbanization, focusing on three key pillars: planning, connecting, and financing.

Main Viewpoints

• Economic Transition and Urbanization: Georgia's transition from a planned to a market economy has been accompanied by economic decline and increasing regional disparities. The country has also experienced a shift towards urbanization, with 53% of the population living in urban areas as of 2012.
• Concentration of Economic Activity: Economic activity and population are heavily concentrated in Tbilisi, which accounts for over 50% of the national GDP and 50% of urban dwellers. Other key cities like Batumi, Kutaisi, Rustavi, Gori, and Poti also play significant roles.
• Urbanization Stages and Regional Disparities: The urbanization process in Georgia is uneven, with some regions experiencing higher levels of urbanization and better access to services than others. This has created significant regional disparities, particularly in basic services and infrastructure.
• Challenges of Urbanization: The report highlights that the poor are concentrated in rural areas, and the Soviet-era mono-cities have seen population shrinkage. Additionally, the housing sector suffers from weak standards and poor regulation, leading to safety and quality concerns.
• Policy Framework: The GUR proposes a 'systems of cities' approach, which recognizes the interdependence of cities at different stages of urbanization and encourages their complementary development.

Key Information

Economic and Demographic Overview

• Total Population (2012): 4.515 million
• Urban Population: 53% of total population
• Urban Growth Rate (2012): 0.9% annually
• Population Density: 64 people per km²
• Number of Cities and Townships: 62 cities and 48 townships
• Capital City: Tbilisi (33% of population)
• Tbilisi's GDP Contribution: Over 50% of national GDP
• Tbilisi's Population Density: 15,000 people per km², comparable to cities like Rio de Janeiro and Bilbao
• Other Key Cities: Batumi, Kutaisi, Rustavi, Gori, and Poti

Urbanization Challenges

• Economic Disparities: Regional disparities in economic activity and access to services have worsened as the economy has urbanized.
• Rural-Urban Divide: Despite urbanization, the poor remain largely in rural areas, where access to basic services like sewage networks is significantly lower than in urban areas.
• Housing Sector Issues: Over 80% of Georgia's housing stock, built during the Soviet era, requires urgent retrofitting or reconstruction. The rental market is underdeveloped, and housing quality and safety are major concerns.
• Infrastructure and Connectivity: Georgia's road infrastructure is uneven, and low maintenance investment threatens progress. The East-West highway has shown positive impacts on urbanization and regional convergence.

Policy Recommendations

• Develop a National Urban Strategy: To maximize the economic contribution of each city and reduce regional disparities.
• Improve Urban Planning: Streamline land use and infrastructure planning, enhance regulatory enforcement, and improve housing quality.
• Enhance Connectivity: Invest in and maintain road networks to support trade and economic integration, especially for lagging regions.
• Strengthen Municipal Finance: Improve local revenue generation and develop a robust framework for public-private partnerships (PPPs).

Key Pillars of Urban Development

Planning

• Georgia has streamlined property registration and construction permit processes, ranking first in property registration and third in construction permits.
• A national urban strategy is needed to ensure coordinated urban development and efficient use of land and infrastructure.
• Weak standards and enforcement in the housing sector are major issues affecting quality and safety.

Connecting

• Trade patterns have shifted from a north-south orientation during the Soviet era to a more diverse and geographically spread-out approach.
• The East-West highway is a critical infrastructure project that has positively impacted urbanization and regional convergence.
• Low investment in road maintenance is a key constraint to improving connectivity.

Financing

• Georgia has a fiscal transfer system aimed at equalizing living standards among local self-governments (LSGs).
• Municipal revenue is heavily reliant on equalization grants, which are derived from central government taxes.
• A robust legal framework for public-private partnerships is lacking, with Georgia ranked second to last among transition countries in terms of PPP legislation quality.

Conclusion

The report concludes that Georgia has made progress in urban development but still faces significant challenges in planning, connecting, and financing. A 'systems of cities' approach is recommended to ensure that urbanization contributes to economic growth and regional convergence. This involves improving urban planning, enhancing connectivity, and strengthening municipal finance and public-private partnerships. These actions are crucial for Georgia to realize its full urban potential and reduce disparities across its regions.