3.1 Urbanisation Flashcards
Define urbanisation.
The process by which an increasing proportion of a country’s population lives in towns and cities
Main causes are natural growth and migration from rural areas
How has the urban population risen?
Rapidly
746 million in 1950
3.9 billion in 2014
Name some of the most and least urban areas.
Northern America (82%-high) Africa (40%- low)
Where is urbanisation most rapid?
Low income countries Medium-sized May not have been built yet Asia and Africa eg India, China and Nigeria are expected to account for 37% of urban population growth from 2014 to 2050
What could lead to urban population decline?
Economic contraction
Natural disaster
eg New Orleans Hurricane Katrina in 2005
Describe the growth of megacities.
1990- 10 megacities
2014- 28 megacities
2025- 37 megacities
Define megacity.
A city or urban agglomeration with a population of more than 10 million people
London achieved megacity status in 2013
What is a metacity?
A conurbation with more than 20 million people
What is urban growth?
Increase in the number of urban dwellers
Classification of urban dwellers can involve population size, population density, average distance between buildings
What is urban sprawl?
The spread of an urban area into the surrounding countryside
How are China planning on creating a new, larger metacity?
Merge 9 cities in the Pearl River Delta
Create an urban area 26 times bigger than Greater London
What are the main reasons for urbanisation in LEDCs since 1950?
Population pressure and lack of resources in rural areas
People are ‘pulled’ to cities by a perceived better quality of life
Natural increase by high birth rates and decreasing death rates
Define industrialisation.
The process by which an economy is transformed from primarily agricultural to one based on manufacturing goods
In what order do the key processes associated urbanisation occur?
Urbanisation
Suburbanisation
Counter urbanisation
Urban regeneration
Outline suburbanisation.
People move from congested city centres to the margins of urban areas
Factories, retail and services also decentralise
Housing density is lower and there are more open spaces
Outline counter urbanisation.
Movement of people to dormitory settlements and commuter towns/rural areas
Governments may direct growth to new towns/areas designated for expansion
Outline urban regeneration.
Attempts by government and key stakeholders to trigger the movement of people back into urban areas
Achieved through housing renewal, improved services, redevelopment of old industrial sites, launch of flagship projects to re-image and creation of new employment
What is a world city?
Large population
Global influence in the service sectors (financial and producer services)
Host major political, cultural and sporting events
Reputation for good education
eg London, New York
What are the 5 main categories of factors that lead to urban growth?
Economic Social Technological Political Demographic
What are some economic factors that could lead to urban growth?
Cost of land Structural job changes New employment opportunities Industrialisation Economic development Affordable housing Opportunities for housing investment Potential for earring money in the informal sector Globalisation
What are some social factors that could lead to urban growth?
Concentration of socio-cultural groups
Geographical and social mobility
Access to cultural and social participation and diversity
Rural to urban migration
What are some technological factors that could lead to urban growth?
More developed infrastructure
Better connectivity
Attraction of digital buisness
What are some political factors that could lead to urban growth?
Regeneration schemes
Re-imaging
Planning decisions improving land use and making urban areas more attractive places to live
What are some demographic related factors that could lead to urban growth?
Population growth
Attraction of urban areas to young, mobile populations
What are the key reasons for deindustrialisation?
Mechanisation where machines took over the jobs of factory workers
Competition from abroad where cheaper labour (eg Chinese, Indian) reduced costs
Reduced demand for certain products as technology developed
What are the economic impacts of deindustrialisation?
Loss of jobs/disposable income
Closure of businesses that support closing industry
Loss of tax income to local authority
Increased demand for state benefits
Loss of income for services as locals have less disposable income
Decline in property prices as out migration occurs
What are the social impacts of deindustrialisation?
Unemployment
High deprivation levels
Out migration of well qualified population
Higher levels of crime, family breakdown, alcohol and drug abuse, and other social problems
Loss of confidence in local population
What are the environmental impacts of deindustrialisation?
Derelict land and buildings
Long-term land pollutions from industries like dye works (no money for land remediation)
Deteriorating infrastructure
Reduces maintenance of local housing caused by lower personal and local authority incomes
Reduction in noise, land and water pollution
Reduced traffic congestion
What is decentralisation?
The outward movement of people and activities from established centres
Give some examples of decentralisation.
Movement from congested cores to lower density housing developments on the fringe
Factory movement to the fringe as machinery and parking needs the space provided here
Services also decentralised eg Trafford Center is a large retail park outside of Manchester with lots of parking and space
What has led to rise in the service economy?
Growth of financial services to support new business developments and a more affluent population
Technologically advanced societies need specialised services
Leisure and retail services expand with growing affluence and rising middle classes
Define regeneration.
The revival of urban areas
Describe urban policy from 1979 to 1991.
Emphasis on the role of the private sector
Local business community encouraged to invest in land to develop and attract private investment
Eg Urban Land Grants, City Action Teams, Urban Development Corporations
Describe urban policy from 1991 to 1997.
Focus on partnerships between private/voluntary sector, local community/authority
Tackle social, economic and environmental issues in rundown areas
Eg City Challenge, City Pride
Describe urban policy from 1997 to 2000s.
Strategies to narrow the gap between social and economic indicators (eg health, education, employment) between the most deprived neighbourhoods and the rest of the country
Eg The Housing Market Renewal Programme, National Neighbourhood Renewal Strategy
Why are rates of natural increase high in urban areas?
Young people are pulled in by opportunity
Young people are fertile
They reproduce
What are the push factors of a rural area?
Population growth that can’t be supported by resources Agricultural problems Poor healthcare and rife disease Cash crops don’t sustain locals Natural disasters War
What are the pull factors of urban areas?
Employment
Informal sector income
Better quality social provisions
Perceived better quality of life
What are the negative impacts of urban sprawl?
Requires more infrastructure that is less economically efficient to service in low density areas
Wildlife habitat loss
UHI effect paired with pollution due to reliance on vehicles
Loss of farmland/open
space
Impact on water quality and quantity
Decentralisation leads to city centre business decline
