Eighty percent of the world's twenty poorest countries have experienced a major war in the last fifteen years, and civil war has reversed development in many other developing countries. On one hand, spatial inequalities--particularly territorial inequalities--have been found to be a significant determinant of the onset of war
but urban economies appear often to play a key role in recovery after war. The evidence on the economic role of cities in generating post-conflict recovery is surveyed. Several special patterns in post-war environments reinforce the natural economic advantages of cities, including human capital, security, infrastructure, and institutions. Policy priorities might focus on reducing the impediments to rural growth after war--particularly insecurity, lack of rural infrastructure and the destruction of institutions--but meanwhile recognize that the best opportunities for poverty reduction during the early stages of post-war recovery may be found in cities.