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Lecture: Malaria and Urbanization in Sub-Saharan Africa
How malaria shaped patterns of urbanization and economic activity in Sub-Saharan Africa was the topic of an evening lecture at the Institute for European Global Studies, held by Dr. rer. pol. Matthias Flückiger (University of Basel) on May 26, 2016.
The lecture was entitled "Malaria Suitability and (Post-)Colonial Urbanization in Sub-Saharan Africa". Dr. Flückiger explained how the climatic malaria environment has influenced the geographical distribution of urbanization and economic activity in the region. He traced the relationship back to the settlement patterns of the European colonizers. These established their local economic and political centers in areas with a relatively benign malaria environment. Many of these colonial hubs have since developed into major cities. The malaria-influenced settlement decisions and path dependency can explain, to a large extent, today's negative association between the malaria environment, urbanization and economic activity.
Dr. rer. pol. Matthias Flückiger is postdoctoral researcher at the Department of Economics, University of Basel. His research focuses on foreign economic policy and European integration.
The lecture "Malaria Suitability and (Post-)Colonial Urbanization in Sub-Saharan Africa" took place on May 26 at 18.15 in the Auditorium of the Institute for European Global Studies. It was followed by a reception. The event was part of the Institute's "Europakolloquium" Series.
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