1.1.2 Causes of urbanisation

Question 1

What are the main causes of urbanisation?

Answer 1

• Natural increase
• Rural-urban migration

Question 2

Natural increase

Answer 2

Where the population naturally increases (as birth rate is higher than death rate).

Question 3

Natural increase

Answer 3

Where the population naturally increases (as birth rate is higher than death rate).

Question 4

Rural-urban migration

Answer 4

Where individuals move from rural areas to urban areas

Question 5

What drives natural increase?

Answer 5

Demographics: Cities often have younger people, students, those with higher incomes and multicultural/diverse populations - these are demographics that make people more likely to have children.

Question 6

Push factors of rural-urban migration

Answer 6

• Agricultural problems
• Lack of access to healthcare
• Natural disasters
• War and conflict

Question 7

Pull factors of rural-urban migration

Answer 7

• Increasing demand for unskilled labour
• Employment opportunities
• Better social provisions e.g. doctors, schools
• Better perceived quality of life

Question 8

Nappy Valley

Answer 8

The area between Clapham and Fulham is referred to as ‘nappy valley’ due to the high proportion of young families living there.

Previously, they would have moved out to the suburbs but the rising cost and time in commuting has meant younger families have stayed put.

Question 9

What tends to attract people to urban areas?

Answer 9

The prospect of higher paid jobs, better educational opportunities and greater cultural and social diversity tends to attract people to urban areas.

Question 10

Bengaluru (Bangalore) case study

Answer 10

• Bengaluru (Bangalore) is one of India’s fastest-growing cities.
• Key industries found in Bengaluru: aeronautical, automotive, biotechnology, electronics, defence industries.
• Rural-urban migration is putting increased pressure on the housing in Bengaluru.
• Bengaluru’s airport is the third busiest in India and has lots of flights at the airport go to Europe and HICs.
• The city’s population almost doubled between 2001 – 2015. However, in the same time – vegetation declined by 66%.

Question 11

Growth of Bengaluru

Answer 11

• In the early 1970s it was relatively small, sustainable and green city.
• It is now the equivalent to Silicon Valley with its focus on technology and the knowledge economy.
• New economic opportunities have been created for a growing middle class. The city had also pulled poorer migrants in from the surrounding countryside and provided a foothold on the employment ladder.

Question 12

Political processes in Bengaluru

Answer 12

• In the 1970s, the state government set aside a large piece of land outside of the city for a high tech business park, which they called “Electronics city”.
• The government enticed overseas firms with the promise of low taxes, relaxed licencing laws and ending limits on currency conversions.
• By investing in education, transport, infrastructure, urban development areas and new suburban housing developments, the government has been proactive in tackling some of the urban problems.

Question 13

Economic processes in Bengaluru

Answer 13

• Bengaluru spearheaded India’s drive for a new globalised economy, an economy that relies on people and their skills rather than manufactured goods.
• It has been described as the largest job creating city in India. It is also the capital of aeronautical, automotive, biotechnological, electronics and defence industries.
• The city meets the need of high tech and corporate workers. This includes low-wage local businesses from clothing manufacturers to teams of uniformed employees working in private healthcare clubs or executive homes for the elite.

Question 14

Social processes in Bengaluru

Answer 14

• There is a growing divide between the middle class and those at the bottom of the social class system.
• As more skilled labour is pulled from outside of the city, there is increasing pressure on housing, causing a change in traditional housing patterns. Within the centre, the traditional, colonial properties are being converted into exclusive homes, increasing rents and forcing inhabitants to move out.
• Some of the wealthy migrate to the “safer” areas, which are modern, gated suburbs.
• Slums are a permanent feature of urban life, occupying marginal land such as rubbish dumps.
• Less than half of all slum dwellers have access to sanitation, clean water or electricity.

Question 15

Technoligical processes in Bengaluru

Answer 15

• Bengaluru is home to 200 engineering colleges and many universities, which have provided a highly skilled workforce.
• The workforce is well educated, skilled and cheap (average wages are 10% of those in London). This has encouraged overseas companies to invest in the city. These companies often reinvest in their workforce by upskilling them in IT skills.

Question 16

Demographic processes in Bengaluru

Answer 16

• Bengaluru is growing at a domestic and unsustainable rate.
• The population of Bengaluru doubled from 2001 to 2015 – much of this is attributed to rural-urban migration.
• Bengaluru has a young population – meaning natural increase will likely happen. This places pressure on urban infrastructure and services.
• The built-up area of Bengaluru is now six times larger than it was in 1970. – During the same period, vegetation declined by 66% and waterbodies declined by 74%.