This paper documents strong but differentiated links between climate and urbanization in Sub-Saharan Africa, which has experienced significant moisture reductions. In large panels of districts and cities, we find drier conditions increase both urbanization and total city incomes in places most likely to have an urban industrial base. In this context, migration to cities provides an “escape” from negative agricultural moisture shocks. However, in most places (75% of our sample), local cities just service agriculture and there is no escape into alternative export-based employment. There, drying has little impact on urban population share or total urban income.
(Coauthors: A. Storeygard, U. Deichmann)

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