public transport

Transport policy in developing countries requires context-specific solutions grounded in evidence, as slow travel speeds, informal systems, gendered safety concerns, and institutional constraints mean that common fixes like congestion charging or BRT are not universally effective, though better-designed mobility systems can expand access to jobs, markets, and opportunity.

Introducing new public buses in Lagos improved commuter welfare through lower fares and better service, but also reduced driver incomes and increased wait times in the private sector – highlighting the distributional trade-offs of public transit expa...

Decoupling driver salaries from fare revenues led to a surge in crime, highlighting the role of private behaviour in victimisation

Ed Glaeser outlines key urban policy challenges in developing countries and the research needed to address them