3232 - Urban Forms, Megacities, Metacities Snd World Cities Flashcards
Define urban form
Refers to the physical characteristics that make up a built up area, including the shape, size density and organisation
A factor that has contributed to the rapid rise of magacities?
Globalisation and economic competition between countries
Name a striking feature of the last 30 years
Rapid development of megacities
Define megacity
City or urban agglomeration with a population of more than 10 million people
Example of a mega city
London achieved the status of a megacity in 2013 as the classification included the residents in greater London
Name some negative features of megacities in LICs
Sprawled in haphazard fashion leading to challenge of providing employment, housing and basic services
Name a positive feature of megacities
Produce 2-3 times more GDP than other cities
Name 3 characteristics identified in the UNs report on urbanisation in 2014
- Less environmentally damaging to provide public transport, housing, electricity, water,msanitiation for w densely settled urban pop than a dispersed rural pop
- Access to larger and more diverse employment markets
- Better levels of education and health care
How many megacities were there in 1990?
10
How many megacities were there in 2014
28
How many mega cities are there printed to be in 2025
UN predicts 37, and will account for 13% of the world population
Where is the development of megacities concentrated
Asia
What was the world’s largest city in 2015
Tokoyo, with more than 38 million people
Define a metacity
An conurbation with more than 20 million people
Define world city
City with a global influence and impact e.g because of their financial status / global commercial power
Five characteristics of a world city
- High proportion of residents employed in services / information
- Centre sod new ideas,p and innovation in business, economics and politics
- Centres of media and communication
- Financial headquarters
- High quality educational institutions
What can world cities be considered?
Hubs in which huge volumes of economic activity can be channelled
Name the four types of ‘hub’
- Hubs of business and international trade
- Production hubs
- Political hubs
- Migration hubs
Describe a hub of business and international trade
- strong connections to the rest of the world via the Internet and electronic communication by air or shipping
- they dominate global trade and consumer activity with headquarters for MNCs,international financial institutions, law firms, industrial giants and stock exchange that influences the world economy.
- high levels of personal wealth
Describe a production hub
Most manufacturing plants are located in developing countries and newly industrialising countries his beer many decisions about marketing and production are made by TNCs most of which have headquartered in world cities
Describe a political hub
World city politicians that dictate trading and economic links between countries.
- influence and participate in international events and world affairs
Describe a migration hub
Attract large numbers of qualified talented people who are globally mobile
- they have increasingly diverse populations
How do World cities dominate and influence?
They dominate and influence well beyond their national boarders they also dominate culturally e.g theatre capitals of the world
What did Loughborough university do?
In 1998 they made an attempt to identity cities of global significance and attempted to rank them based on their financial influence cities were categorised from alpha ++ to gamma level.
Describe alpha ++ cities
More integrated than all other cities and constitutes their own high levels of integration e.g London and New York
Describe alpha + cities
High interrelated cities, filling in advanced services needed for Pacific Asia e.g Paris, Tokoyo
Describe alpha cities
Very important world cities, linking major economic region and rates into the world economy e.g Chicago, Milan, Mumbai, LA
Describe beta cities
Important world cities that link regions or states into the world economy e.g Lisbon or Copenhagen
Describe gamma cities
World cities that link smaller regions or states into the world economy and who’s major services is not in the advanced producer services
Are world cities always the biggest?
No, however in the past they were usually the biggest cities however today it is their global influence and impact that is important
