6.2 Urban trends and issues of urbanisation

Question 1

Why is urbanisation higher in LICs rather than HICs

Answer 1

• In HICs a large proportion are already living in towns and cities
• Modern transport as well as technology and communication allows urban life to spread into more rural areas
• THIS IS RURAL DILATION

Question 2

Stage 1 of urbanisation pathway

Answer 2

• Very low levels of urbanisation
• Majority living in rural areas

Question 3

Stage 2 of urbanisation pathway

Answer 3

• Rates of economic development and urbanisation speed up

Question 4

Stage 3 of urbanisation pathway

Answer 4

• Level of economic development + urbanisation begins to flatten out

Question 5

Stage 4 of urbanisation pathway

Answer 5

• Curve begins to drop - COUNTERURBANISATION

Question 6

Define urbanisation

Answer 6

• The process whereby the proportion of people living in towns and cities increases
• This involves a relative shift of population from rural to urban places. A country’s ‘level of urbanisation’ is defined as ‘the percentage population in urban areas’

Question 7

Define urban growth

Answer 7

• The increase in absolute numbers of people living in towns and cities or increase in areal extent
  of an urban area (sprawl)

Question 8

Define urban renewal and urban redevelopment

Answer 8

• Urban renewal is the keeping of the best elements of the existing urban environment (can be safeguarded by planning regulations) and adapted for new usages
• Urban redevelopment is the complete clearance of existing buildings and site infrastructure and construction of new buildings often for a different purpose, from scratch

Question 9

Define global city

Answer 9

• A global city plays a major role in global affairs in terms of politics, economics and culture. It has international financial institutions, law firms, corporate HQs and stock exchanges that have influence over the
  world economy
• Will have a major international airport, an advanced transportation system, an advanced
  communications infrastructure, world-renowned cultural institutions, such as museums and universities, a
  lively cultural scene and several powerful and influential media outlets with an international reach