Cities across the global south are in a bind. As they absorb more residents, providing access to core services like housing and energy—already a challenge—is getting even harder. Policymakers are looking for answers, and Alain Bertaud, a senior research scholar at the NYU Stern Urbanization Project, says they should look elsewhere than existing large cities.

For more on the World Resources Report, "Toward a More Equal City," visit www.citiesforall.org