Rising infrastructure inequalities accompany urbanization and economic development

Pandey, Bhartendu; Brelsford, Christa; Seto, Karen C.

doi:10.1038/s41467-025-56539-w

Title: Rising infrastructure inequalities accompany urbanization and economic development

Journal Article · Thu Jan 30 00:00:00 EST 2025 · Nature Communications

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-56539-w · OSTI ID:2507474

Pandey, Bhartendu;

;

Abstract Impending global urban population growth is expected to occur with considerable infrastructure expansion. However, our understanding of attendant infrastructure inequalities is limited, highlighting a critical knowledge gap in the sustainable development implications of urbanization. Using satellite data from 2000 to 2019, we examine country-level population-adjusted biases in infrastructure distribution within and between regions of varying urbanization levels and derive four key findings. First, we find long-run positive associations between infrastructure inequalities and both urbanization and economic development. Second, our estimates highlight increasing infrastructure inequalities across most of the countries examined. Third, we find greater future infrastructure inequality increases in the global south, where inequalities will rise more in countries with substantial urban primacy. Fourth, we find that infrastructure inequality may evolve differently than economic inequalities. Overall, advancing sustainable development vis-à-vis urbanization and economic development will require intentional infrastructure planning for spatial equity.

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Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE

OSTI ID:: 2507474

Journal Information:: Nature Communications, Journal Name: Nature Communications Vol. 16 Journal Issue: 1; ISSN 2041-1723

Publisher:: Nature Publishing GroupCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United Kingdom

Language:: English

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