1Senior Fellow and Head,
2Non-resident Senior Fellow,
Enhancing the economic performance of cities is the new global narrative. A recent report by the United Nations called Towards a New Urban Agenda indicates that cities account for 70 per cent of the world's gross domestic product (GDP)-some 55 per cent of GDP in low-income countries, 73 per cent in middle-income countries, and 85 per cent in high-income countries i. Cities, according to the report, are becoming prominent players in the global arena. Harnessing their growth potential, agglomeration economies, and other transformational attributes are thus central to economic growth and poverty reduction goals and objectives. It is in this context that this paper delves into an examination of one question: what would make cities in ‘developing Indian states’ economically vibrant?
