Seven Myths of the Slums

Myth 1: There are too many people

Slums are not caused by overpopulation but by outdated institutions, weak governance, poor legal systems, debt burdens, and development policies that ignore the needs of the poor.

Myth 2: The poor are to blame

Contrary to stereotypes, the poor are resourceful and often lead successful self-help housing and community-led upgrades; they are not lazy, antisocial, or unwilling to work.

Myth 3: Slums are places of crime, violence, and degradation

Crime in slums is linked to poverty, inequality, exclusion, and youth unemployment—not the moral failure of slum-dwellers.

Myth 4: Slums are an inevitable stage of development

The idea that all countries must pass through slum-filled industrialization is false; rich nations used protectionist policies, not laissez-faire models, to develop.

Myth 5: The free market can end slums

Market forces alone cannot provide housing or services to the poor; deregulation and privatization often worsen slum growth.

Myth 6: International aid is the answer

Aid projects have not stopped slum growth because urban poverty receives low priority, and aid programs rarely involve slum residents in planning.

Myth 7: There will always be slums

The belief that slums are permanent results from limited language and polarized viewpoints; imagining a world without slums requires new perspectives and definitions.