The Cyclical Evolution of Pop-up Cities: A Three-Phase Model

Pop-up cities are described as cycling through three phases that end by returning to the first, with the cycle restarting. In the primary phase, organizers who put others' interests first build participant trust and enable members with diverse views to integrate. The secondary phase brings rapid efficiency, growth in users, capital and influence, and many new projects, but the article says it is inherently scarce and unstable. Its tertiary phase is resolved by reform that prioritizes equity over efficiency, and the author's own observations suggest maintaining efficiency at equity's expense would worsen conflicts and would make Zuzalu-style communities a cautionary tale. The framework is said to extend to broader communities, DAOs and protocols.