3.1 - Rates Of Urbanisation (CB) Flashcards
What is the definition of a megacity?
A megacity is a city that has a population of over 10 million people. Predictions estimate that by 2030 there will be 41 megacities.
What is the definition of a million city?
A million city is a city which has more than a million occupants.
What is urban primacy?
Urban primacy is where one city dominates over a county meaning it has the largest population and controls most of the things that happen in that city and in the world.
What economic influence do primate cities have? - Investment
Businesses locate there attracting investment in infrastructure and services. Governments and large businesses and corporation headquarters usually locate there as well. This means that decisions in these sectors benefit cities rather than the rest of the county.
What economic influence do primate cities have? - Migration
Highly skilled workers migrate there because there are better jobs and more opportunities. This means higher pay.
What economic influence do primate cities have? - Transport
The busiest airports and shipyards/ports are located here as well encouraging further investment and migration. They act as a transport hub.
How are cities classed in order of importance in the world?
They are classed as follows: Alpha++, Alpha+, Alpha and Alpha-. There are only 2 Alpha++ cities – London and New York – and these cities play the most important role in influencing the world according to a study done in 2012.
Define “Urbanisation”.
Urbanisation is the growth in the proportion of a country’s population living in urban areas.
Why is urbanisation happening all over the world?
Urbanisation is happening because young people born and raised in rural areas are moving to the city because there are better jobs meaning better pay. They also move to start families of their own while the older generation move out to rural areas to retire for a quieter lifestyle.
Why is the percentage of people living in urban areas in developing countries lower than the percentage of people living in urban areas in emerging or developed countries?
In developing countries, the urban areas are not as developed as in other areas of the world meaning that the jobs there are not as well paid as in urban areas in developed or emerging countries so there’s no reason for the people to move there.
How has the growth of megacities changed from 1950 to 2014?
In 1950, there were only two megacities – London and New York – and they were both in developed countries. This number grew as time’s gone on and now the majority of megacities are in emerging countries with the developing countries catching up. This is because in 1950, not many people had a reason to go to the city when there were jobs in rural areas like mining and agriculture. When those jobs began to disappear, people started to move to find work and wanted to live closer to their work.
