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There are all too few examples of good urban governance in the ‘South’. One city which improved its performance dramatically after 1992 was Bogotá, the capital of Colombia. It joined the ranks of exemplar cities and its former mayors toured the world advertising this ‘miracle’. Unfortunately, after 2008, the city’s administration became mired in corruption and its image ratings have dived. The current administration has so far failed to revive trust in the city’s governance. Based on interviews with key personalities in the city, this paper examines the causes of Bogotá’s recovery and its recent relapse. Bogotá’s experience is useful to students of urban governance in showing not only how a city in the ‘South’ can improve its performance but also that any improvement is fragile. A decent working relationship between technocrats and politicians is critical in guaranteeing both public support and progress in implementing major public works. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Generalising about urban governance and the urban poor across most of the globe is unhelpful. Unfortunately, I see far too many current examples of that disease. Latin America is not China and is most certainly not like most of Africa or the Indian subcontinent. A recent paper in this journal argued that every city in the South suffers from poor and corrupt management. While accepting that such a diagnosis is true of too many cities, this paper offers an antidote. It explains how Bogotá, Colombia, was transformed from a bankrupt and excessively politicised city into one that is quite well run. Unfortunately, Bogotá also demonstrates that progress follows an uncertain path and corruption reappeared in spectacular form when the electorate voted in a dishonest mayor. If Bogotá is no longer quite the model of competent management it once was, it demonstrates that decent government is possible in the South. That is a vital ingredient if the quality of life of poor people is to improve. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The author reflects on the public impact of the book "The Mystery of Capital," by Hernando de Soto. He stresses that few of de Soto's claims seemed to describe what happened in Bogotá, Colombia, and his argument could almost be reversed in the city's illegal subdivisions. He points out that de Soto and his associates continue to come up with impressive estimates of how much dead capital exists in informal settlements.

Successful mass transit solutions are rare in poor cities. When they appear they are lauded across the globe and too often copied uncritically. The latest exemplar of such best practice is the 'Transmilenio' rapid bus system in Bogota. The article describes its main characteristics and applauds the improvements that it has already brought to urban transport in Bogota. Naturally, the system is not without its flaws and these need to be drawn to the attention of those who might copy the Bogota example. This is particularly important at the present time when the jewel of Bogota has come under surprisingly strong local criticism over its cost, its ownership structure, its decreasing effectiveness and, fundamentally, because it has failed to solve the transport chaos of Bogota. There is a real danger that 'Transmilenio' will stagnate as its popularity declines and as demands for a metro increase. Given the strengths of the system that would be something of a disaster and, most certainly, not in the interests of the poor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water is critical to improving the health and welfare of the expanding urban populations of the South. Unfortunately, few cities in poor countries have managed to develop institutions able to supply the poor with water, let alone take away the waste. One city that has managed to do so is Bogotá, Colombia. The results of this public company are impressive and have been achieved by adopting some elements of neo-liberal economic thought and by maintaining independence from political pressure. Recently, however, the water company's operations, and particularly its efficiency and pricing policy, have come under attack from a new left-of-centre mayor. The paper explores the legitimacy of some of the attacks and examines whether they constitute fair political debate or a means of undermining what, by the standards of the South, is an effective company. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The self-produced housing is clearly an "architecture" that works. The occupation with ownership is also a highly desired possession between the poor people of third world cities. The governments of the majority of poor countries have stimulated the ownership of the self-constructed housing. But What do really gain the poor families of ownership? As compared with the housing of the rich people, the housing of the self-produced settlements are rarely sold. If a limited market for this type of housing exists, the pricing of capital should be limited and henceforth it is probably that the poor will lose as compared to the rich. If the poor cannot sold his self produced housing that is consolidated, what will they do with them? The author intend to answer some of this questions with the help of research done in the self-produced suburbs of Bogota Colombia. He concludes in a general manner, that file ownership of housing in self-produced settlements does not offer the same advantages as the ownership that is located in high income areas in relation to the price of capital. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the past decade, the political culture of Bogota's citizens has undergone a major transformation. Whilst during decades the inhabitants of the Colombian capital could barely hope to be taken into account by the city's mayors in their administration, today most citizens will expect to see the effect of their vote and at least some of their aspirations in the actions of the head of the local government. In this article we review the work of the city's mayors in the four decades between 1961 and 2000. Our aim is to reflect on the main factors that helped shape the administration of the 21 mayors who held office during that period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A priority for housing policy in most Third World countries is to channel credit to the poor. Unfortunately, this has proved difficult to achieve as formal lending institutions are reluctant to lend to the poor. This paper examines how formal lenders deal with self-help housing in Bogotá, Colombia. It also compares how housing construction and/or purchase is financed in four self-help settlements and in two formally constructed, low-income estates in the city. Finally, some ideas are presented about how housing finance for the poor might be improved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary. Bogota is seemingly a positive example of what restructuring and sensible macroeconomic policy can bring to Latin America. Despite liberalisation and a vast increase in the number of people seeking work, unemployment rates have fallen. Large numbers of new jobs have been created, principally in the informal sector. There seems little real doubt that since 1970 poverty in Bogota has become both less common and less serious. However, if there is less poverty, it is principally because of demographic change: adults form a larger proportion of the labour force, and more of those adults are working. Poverty has been cut by the huge rise in labour participation. Fewer people are hungry, but people are also a great deal busier. Nor has the degree of income inequality been reduced. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]