Perspective Chapter: Smart City(ies) – Citizen Equalisers or Inequality Generators

Abstract

The UN predicts that by 2050, 72% of the world’s population will be urban dwellers, a global migration and human shift that will ultimately lead to a significant social, economic and environmental transformation of urban environments. Not surprisingly, such a prediction has led to an increased interest in the growth of smart city(ies). Literature suggests that these ecosystems, that is smart city(ies), increase productivity and grow social, human and economic capital, and have the potential to reduce inequality(ies) amongst its citizens. This chapter will argue, that such expectations of inequality reduction, may not be the case. That current technocentric approaches fail to address urban problems associated with inequality, including urban sprawl, poverty, higher rates of unemployment, growing urban costs, and housing affordability. Recommendations will be made for the use of alternative mechanisms in the design of these ecosystems, to achieve the ultimate goal of reduced inequality, while simultaneously creating more liveable, vibrant and social, economic and sustainable city(ies) and community(ies) of the future.