Cities of the Global South: Malthusian Citites? The first lecture in the MSD Dean's Lecture Series for 2012 focuses on one of the most critical issues facing our modern world: urbanization.Internationally renowned economist and educator, Robert Buckley will examine the demographics of urbanization in the cities of the Global South (133 countries located mainly in South and Central America, Africa, and Asia). He will discuss how the current inexorable demographic trend affects the need for a greater responsiveness by local public institutions and will emphasize the vital but under-appreciated efforts of community-based organizations in creating more responsive environments.The lecture title's reference to 'Malthus' makes the point that the most "dismal" of the dismal scientists - i.e. economists - believed that population growth would always constrain economic growth, as the demand for food exceeded the capacity to supply it. Buckley raises a similar question about supply responsiveness: how can the cities of the Global South become more responsive to the situation they confront? And, if they do not become more responsive, what are the likely implications?Robert Buckley joined the Graduate Program in International Affairs at the New School in New York in 2010, where he is currently a Senior Fellow. He is also is an Advisor at Rockefeller Foundation in New York. His work at the Foundation focuses on issues relating to urbanization in developing countries and policy issues related to slums in the cities of the Global South. He also worked as an Advisor and Lead Economist at the World Bank (2002-2007).Buckley has written extensively on urbanization, housing, and development for The Financial Times, The New York Times and The Washington Post, The Oxford Bulletin of Economics and Statistics, The Journal of Money, Credit and Banking, and Economic Development and Cultural Change. His most recent book, Urbanization and Economic Growth, co-edited with Michael Spence and Patricia Annez, was published in 2009.