The “City Prosperity Index”: Experiences in Mexican planning

Abstract

The City Prosperity Index (cpi) of un-Habitat proposes a comprehensive vision that considers the economic, social and environmental dimensions of prosperity. Based on the comparative analysis of various indices, the cpi is considered an effective tool for the preparation of diagnoses and for the identification of challenges and potentialities of cities, which allows supporting planning processes; however, the tool is limited to influence the design, implementation and monitoring of public policies, since it depends on strengthen-ing local capacities to translate the findings into concrete actions. Some municipalities in Mexico have shown that by incorporating long-term plans designed from the cpi findings, it is possible to guide their cities to become more sustainable, safe, resilient and prosperous places.