2.3.3: Urbanisation: Megacities & World Cities

Question 1

Megacities

General Timeframe

Answer 1

Growth of very large cities:
1900: 3 cities over 1m, over 300 in year 2000. Growth in Megacities: Cities of over 10m population.

Question 2

Megacities

Definition

Answer 2

A city with a population of over 10 million people.

Question 3

Megacities

Whereabouts in the ‘urban heirarchy’ are megacitites?

Answer 3

Megacities are at the top of the urban heirarchy

Question 4

Megacities

Detailed trend of Megacities over time:

Answer 4

• 1970: 3 megacities, 100% in HICs (USA, Japan)
• 2014: 28 Megacities 30% in HICs, 70% in LICs/MICs
• 2023: 33 Megacities, 20% in HICs, 80% in LICs/MICs

Question 5

Megacities

Tokyo: Facts

Answer 5

Biggest city in the world
- 38 million people
- 5,000 sq miles

This is an exception to the general rule for megacities

Question 6

Megacities

The majority are in MICs and HICs: 6 examples

Answer 6

• Bengaluru/Bangalore (India- LIC/MIC)
• Cairo (Egypt-MIC)
• Istanbul (Turkey- MIC)
• Jakarta (Indonesia- MIC)
• Manila (Phillipines- MIC)
• Mexico City (Mexico- MIC)

Question 7

Megacities

Number of people in megacities 1975-2015

Answer 7

HICs:
From 36m to 69m (x2)
MICs/LICs
From 33m to 327m (x10!)

Question 8

World Cities

Definition

Answer 8

‘Important’ to world economy: Many aspects are chanelled through them due to:
- Capital & money
- Knowledge
- Political stability
- History of being important: trade etc.

Question 9

World Cities

Are world citites the largest cities in the world?

Answer 9

No, not necessarily. But the most important world citites are in HICs

Question 10

World Cities

What is the rank for Globalisation & World cities?

Answer 10

Alpha, Beta, Gamma, and “Other” cities
Research Network according to (economic) interconnectedness with other cities

Question 11

World Cities

Globalisation & World cities ranking:

Answer 11

Alpha cities: London, New York, Singapore
Beta: Paris, Dubai, Tokyo, Hong Kong, Sidney
Gamma: Sao Paulo, Moscow, Beijing, Mumbai
Others: Johannesburg, Melbourne, Seoul, San Fransisco (tech companies).

Question 12

Megacities

Growth pattern in Megacities

Answer 12

Global pattern is enourmous growth of Megacities in LICs and MICs.
Growth will continue fastest in LICs.

Question 13

World Cities

Key term to describe world cities

Answer 13

Highly Interconnected

Question 14

World Cities

Mainly in HICs or LICs?

Answer 14

World cities are mainly in HICs.

Question 15

World Cities

Why are World Cities important?

Answer 15

Help organise globalisation
- Either thorugh market forces eg TNCs + Banks funnel their activities in & out through World Cities.
- Or global governance is organised through bodies based in World cities eg UN, World bank, WTO.