Check out this video in which economist Paul Romer shares his plan to help reduce poverty in the Third World through the establishment of charter cities. His proposal is inspired, in part, by the historical experience of Hong Kong, a barren clump of rocks that became a megacity because an outside power took it over and put the right sorts of institutions in place. He was also inspired by the charters that monarchs gave to cities in the Middle Ages.
Romer’s amazing career as of 2010 is discussed here. In May 2011, Romer announced that he was leaving Stanford for N.Y.U., where he will run a new project — the Urban System Project, based at N.Y.U.’s Stern School of Business.
The Past Speaks 