High Living Costs, Urban Agglomeration, and Inequality: Lessons from the Spatial Geo-Economic Politics of Urban Out-Migration in Sub-Saharan African Cities.

This paper examines how high living costs, urban agglomeration, and inequality interact in Sub-Saharan African cities, focusing on the urban out-migration aspect of the spatial geo-economic politics involved. Using data from the World Bank and the GMM technique, the study identifies income inequality, rapid urbanization, and rising living costs as the main determinants of migration. The analysis reveals a net migration rate of 1.092 in large cities like Lagos, Kinshasa, and Johannesburg, driven by urban growth and economic opportunities that attract people. However, due to increasing living costs, high housing costs, and congestion, individuals are forced to move to more affordable and less crowded areas, resulting in out-migration. Income inequality, with a Gini coefficient of 0.81, where a few urban areas accumulate wealth while leaving a large portion of the population in poverty, is also linked to migration dynamics. Rapid urbanization, with an average growth rate of 4.403%, exacerbates spatial disparities and encourages migration towards peri-urban and secondary cities. The study also explores the influence of economic indicators on migration trends, using GDP per capita and GNI growth to show that economic growth and inequality play significant roles. Policy recommendations such as affordable housing, economic decentralization, slum upgrading, and improved access to services are suggested to address migration challenges and promote sustainable urban development. JEL Classification R23, O18, D31