Urban Public Finance in Developing Economies

Managing public resources in rapidly growing cities is one of the most critical challenges facing emerging economies today. This text-based course provides a clear introduction to how local and regional governments in developing countries raise revenue, allocate budgets, and fund essential public services. You will transition from understanding basic economic principles to analyzing complex intergovernmental fiscal relations and modern urban financing strategies. What you'll learn: - Understand the core principles of fiscal decentralization and public resource allocation - Evaluate local revenue sources, including property taxes, user fees, and intergovernmental transfers - Analyze municipal budgeting processes and expenditure decisions for urban infrastructure - Explore modern climate finance mechanisms and green municipal bonds for sustainable development - Assess the political and institutional challenges of implementing fiscal reforms - Study digital public financial management tools that improve tax collection and transparency The course begins with foundational concepts of public finance and decentralization before moving into practical revenue-generation strategies and modern financing models for resilient cities. Designed for beginners, aspiring urban planners, public policy students, and municipal administrators, this course requires no prior background in economics. Start building your foundational knowledge of urban public finance today.