Ann Bernstein’s argument that SA’s biggest cities should be placed at the centre of economic policy makes many useful points (Jobs plan should make large cities opportunity centres for more people, September 1). However, there are three important omissions. First, the article is dismissive of smaller cities and towns, just as it discounts the prospects of many small employment projects in these places. This ignores the fact that all large cities were small at some point, just as all large firms and large projects were also small originally. Some smaller cities and towns are currently growing more quickly than large cities. Governments should be wary of writing anywhere off for fear of creating a self-fulfilling prophecy. Second, nothing is said about the role of housing in accommodating swelling urban populations and supporting economic development. More attention should be given to creating adequate, affordable and accessible accommodation in cities to reduce the hazardous conditio...
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