As the rise of emerging donors and the constant shift of development activities from the “global north” to the “global south” continue to change the international development landscape, international development practitioners are increasingly finding themselves posted in developing countries as well.
From multinational companies focused on mining, petroleum and manufacturing establishing branches in emerging markets, to the establishment of multilateral institutions in developing nations — such as the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank and the BRICS’ New Development Bank — living and working in developing country cities is fast-becoming a facet of globalization.
While traditional global cities like New York, London and Hong Kong continue to be the hub of international trade and development, African and Asian cities like Luanda, Angola and Shanghai are grabbing headlines not only because of their fast-growing economies but also their rising profile as some of the most expensive developing country cities to work and live in.