Cities and the Urban Informal Economy: Rethinking Development, Urban Design and Planning

This interdisciplinary course, led by an urban designer, an urban planner, and a leading global advocate for the urban working poor, intends to scrutinize the different theories and their applications, since the early 1970s, to better understand and influence the informal economy. The objective is to transcend conventional disciplinary approaches with innovative, multidisciplinary thinking regarding how to valorize and enhance the contribution of the urban working poor to good city form, equitable city planning, and democratic urban governance.

This course will meet for the first time on Monday, January 31st and taught online through February 4th.

This course is jointly offered by the GSD, HKS, and MIT. Please see the course logistics website for more information.