Market Urbanism Around the World

Catalyst’s Market Urbanism Around the World series follows Market Urbanism specialist Scott Beyer’s tour of the “global south” and catalogs economic development across Latin America, Africa and Asia. Scott Beyer is a Catalyst Columnist Fellow and the owner of the Market Urbanism Report, a media company that advances free-market city policy. He is also an urban affairs journalist who writes regular columns for Forbes, Governing Magazine, HousingOnline.com, and Catalyst. Follow him on Twitter: @marketurbanist.

Johannesburg: Where Apartheid Never Ended
Three decades later, the city and country are still extremely segregated.
Scott Beyer | May 29, 2023
How South Africa’s Energy Crisis Brings The Country Down
Its overburdened monopoly power supply needs expansion to meet the population’s needs.
Scott Beyer | May 22, 2023
What Mexico City Can Teach the U.S. About Parklets
In a city of low car ownership and small retail storefronts, parklets expand seating capacity.
Scott Beyer | May 15, 2023
Latin America’s Food Delivery Wars
Market competition drives delivery prices down, while government protectionism does the opposite for rideshare.
Scott Beyer | May 8, 2023
Latin America’s Zoning-free Urbanism
Spontaneous commerce, dense settlements, high-rises, and seemingly non-existent zoning dominate the urban realm.
Scott Beyer | May 1, 2023
Latin America’s Fabulous Indian Branding
Peru leans into its Incan heritage, and other countries to their roots.
Scott Beyer | April 24, 2023
Where Free Markets Bring Modernity
What Other Latin American Countries Can Learn From Chile
The Dangers of Currency Devaluation
How Argentina wrecked its economy, and how it can come back.
Scott Beyer | April 10, 2023
Asuncion: Booming Population, Porous Infrastructure
The Paraguay capital’s growth is exposing the flaws of public utilities, but the promise of private replacements.
Scott Beyer | April 3, 2023
How to Create an Urban Amenity Beach
Latin American beaches might be even better with private management.
Scott Beyer | March 27, 2023
Favelas, the Great Untapped Neighborhoods
Here's what I learned visiting some of the most dangerous places on Earth.
Scott Beyer | March 20, 2023
The Challenge of Latin American “Centros”
Downtown areas there struggle with crime and obsolescence. What can bring them back?
Scott Beyer | March 13, 2023
“Zona Francas”: A Step Towards Latin American Freedom
The region’s trade-focused SEZs should take a further step and deregulate land use.
Scott Beyer | March 6, 2023
Latin America: A Transit Success Story
Cities there have systems that are more innovative, efficient and well-used than the U.S.
Scott Beyer | February 27, 2023
Barrios Tropicales: The Making of Green Neighborhoods
In Latin America, a mix of public and private investment has created tropical urban settings.
Scott Beyer | February 20, 2023
The Darien Gap Tragedy
The one unclosed gap in the route from North to South America is hazardous and economically costly.
Scott Beyer | February 13, 2023
Panama City’s Success: A Product of Trade and Liberalization
The city's success is a testament to free markets and openness to trade
Scott Beyer | February 6, 2023
Honduras’ Charter City Experiment
The ZEDE law passed by the impoverished Central American nation can become a model for the charter city movement, but only if not upended by a hostile government.
Scott Beyer | January 30, 2023
The Folly of Urban Planning in Guatemala City
Guatemala City's “Opportunity District” plan shows the flaws of trying to predict where growth happens
Scott Beyer | January 23, 2023
Latin American Cities Are Underrated
It's clear why many with the option to work remotely are choosing Mexico City as their new home
Scott Beyer | January 16, 2023