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12 - The Proliferation of Slums in Cameroon

What Do Internal Migrations Mean for Urban Planning?

from Part II - Case Studies on Urban Planning in African Countries

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  07 December 2023

Patrick Brandful Cobbinah
Affiliation:
University of Melbourne
Eric Gaisie
Affiliation:
University of Melbourne
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Summary

The nexus between internal migration and slums/informal settlements is appraised for urban areas in Cameroon using data from the 2014 Household Survey. In terms of methodology, the chapter employs multiple correspondence analysis to construct an index for slumsurban planning should factor internal migratory decisions of poor individuals that fuel urban informality when planning cities/informal settlements plus the Propensity Score Matching Technique. The main findings reveal that migrants are between 11% and 16% more likely to live in slums/informal settlements than non-migrants. Urban informality, perceived as migrants working in the informal sector, increases the chances of living in a slum/informal settlement. In rethinking African cities, urban planning should factor in internal migratory decisions of poor individuals that fuel urban informality when planning cities.

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Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2023

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