The team trying to end poverty by founding well-governed ‘Charter’ cities

Abstract

Governance reforms like Special Economic Zones have historically transformed societies from poverty to prosperity. However, implementing broad-scale reforms in existing jurisdictions is challenging. The Center for Innovative Governance Research (CIGR) is reviving the idea of “charter cities” to address this issue. Charter cities would be new self-governing urban entities within existing countries, allowing them to adopt best practices in governance without disrupting the wider country. CIGR argues that starting afresh with a new city enables the removal of harmful regulations and the establishment of a vibrant economy based on land sales and infrastructure investments. Despite potential criticisms, CIGR is advocating for charter cities and developing supporting services to facilitate their implementation. By attracting migrants and experimenting with innovative governance models, charter cities aim to address global poverty and advance governance innovation. – AI-generated abstract.