FREEDOM AND SATISFACTION - MEASURING SOCIOECONOMIC STATUS IN 2 INFORMAL SETTLEMENTS IN EGMORE, CHENNAI

Abstract

Urbanisation is a process which allows the rapid growth of cities in most developing countries. With increasing levels of migration into cities, it has resulted in a chaotic process of the proliferation of informal settlements in urban areas. By studying 2 informal settlements in Chennai, this paper explores how the freedom discourse has been used by The World Bank in the urban development context, and to essentially observe if the two models (In-Situ Redevelopment and Sites & Services) have produced patterns of upward social mobility in those slums. This is studied by measuring the current socioeconomic status of the residents in comparison to their past. Furthermore, satisfaction and happiness are measured through survey ratings, to in turn assess the level of freedom. Drawing a comparison between the 2 cases, this paper finally discusses the implications of different housing policies implemented in urban slums, and on the residents’ freedom and satisfaction in the urban development context.