Emerald cities : the emergence of mega developments in the 21st century

Abstract

This thesis examines the recent worldwide boom in megacity development. Its basis is a global survey of megacity building that quantifies the amount of current development and qualifies the various city types and themes, the countries in which megacities are being built, and the firms that are building them. The key findings from the survey are summarized and analyzed, followed by a closer look at some of the leading city building firms and their role in the global megacity building industry. Next, is an investigation of the critical reasons why city building is occurring on such a massive scale, which together with the survey findings sets the framework for three possible distinct megacity market models. The thesis continues with case studies of three new cities, each with their own unique theme and reasons for being developed. Finally, the megacity phenomenon is assessed from the perspective of broader issues such as sustainability and social impact, and summary conclusions are drawn.