December 29, 2020

As the world reflects on the Covid-19 pandemic, the ideal city is also undergoing re-evaluation. In ‘Where is the future for cities?’ in TODAY, Associate Professor Tim Bunnell (NUS Geography and Director of Asia Research Institute) and Associate Professor Daniel Goh (NUS Sociology) discuss how the Covid-19 pandemic has accelerated redefinitions of the ‘successful’ city of the future.

The pandemic has revealed how the global city may not be the ‘successful’ city of the future. Residents have moved out of London and New York because these two established global financial hubs have struggled to manage the virus. Conversely, Asian cities previously faulted for focusing too heavily on economic infrastructure have organised safe, resilient, and sustainable cities amidst the pandemic. By comparing Western and Asian cities, the authors argue that a balance between healthcare and economic opportunities will best constitute the ‘successful’ city.

Examples of best practices can be found worldwide. Safe distancing, remote working, and e-commerce business models have become prominent areas of urban policy. The authors further suggest that other key metrics could include resilient healthcare models, adaptable governance, and access to essential services. These best practices can be seen in the small yet dense Colombian city of Medellin. In June 2020, the city of 2.4 million residents employed the pre-emptive use of mobile applications and a robust digital infrastructure to minimise social movement and track medical cases. This limited Covid-19 related deaths to just four persons.

As Singapore routinely draws inspiration from best practices internationally, the authors note that such successes should be contextualised before adoption. This includes considering how connected a city is to the wider national system and the global economy. With an updated evaluation system and a willingness to learn from the successes of unexpected places, Singapore’s adaptable government and resilient urban policy will be vital for its urban and economic future.

Read the article here.