9.1.3 Processes Of Urban Growth Flashcards
What are the economic development processes associated with urbanisation
Urban economic growth is focused around ports and urban cores, and are called growth poles
This encourages inward movement of people for jobs and better wages; As new workers earn, they spend – creating demand for additional companies
The increased need for services such as infrastructure, housing, sanitation etc. creates jobs
Businesses benefit from wider employment pool, generating larger profits, leading to increased jobs and wage increases - positive multiplier effect
Primary sector economy changes from subsistence to commercial production, reducing available jobs and wages. This acts as a ‘push’ towards urban areas
What are the social processes associated with urban growth?
Higher wages, access to healthcare and a better lifestyle are a pull factors and as more people move to urban areas they can become centres of cultural expression such as art galleries, museums and food
Increase in social diversity and cultures creates tolerance and understanding, however, it can also generate fear and intolerance along with segregation
Social inequalities are amplified in urban areas with pockets of deprivation and exclusivity clearly evident with gated communities and ghettos juxtaposed in some cities (e.g. Sao Paulo and Los Angeles)
What are the technological processes accosted with urbanisation?
Most HDEs urban areas are hotspots for technological advances due to past industrialisation - Manchester was known as ‘Cottonoplis’ and was the world leader in cotton processing. Nowadays, these areas specialise in hi-tech research and development and use science parks such as Silicon Valley, California, and Thames Valley, Oxford to further attract talent and specialised employees
EMEs are also seeing this growth with increases in factories in cities such as Mumbai, Dhaka and Shanghai
What are the political processes associated with urbanisation?
With increases in urban growth, inequalities are amplified with new a category of ‘working’ people arising
Political response emerges to represent this new class of urban population with political reform focusing on issues surrounding the affect on urban life - housing, education, access to healthcare, working conditions and exploitation
What are the demographic processes associated with urbanisation?
Inward migration (internal and international) increases as a city’s influence grows, changing the demography of its population
Urban areas become culturally and ethnically diverse creating a mosaic of different areas - Little Italy, Chinatown etc.
Age structure changes as cities are seen as never sleeping and ever changing, therefore, cities have a younger population as they seek the excitement and bright lights
Many choose to stay and raise families and this also keeps urban areas as youthful populations
What are the urban pull factors - positive multiplier effect?
Higher wages
Pace and excitement
Improved education and healthcare
Better job opportunities
Public utilities: water, gas, electricity, etc.
Government support
What features of an urban area were developed as a result of decentralisation and the rise of services economy?
Suburban CBDs – as urban areas grew, people found themselves further away from CBDs, so suburban retail and commercial centres expanded
Retail parks are sited along ring roads and major intersections
Urban superstores and hypermarkets – along points of high access and consumer demand – led by large corporations – Tesco, Asda, Sainsbury’s etc.
Out of town shopping centres – providing one-stop shopping, eating and leisure facilities
Internet shopping and home delivery – this is changing the face of the urban area and traditional shopping habits
Peripheral locations are becoming more popular as they offer advantages, including niche markets, parking, accessibility and sometimes cheaper land prices
Describe urban areas prior to 1979
One major design fault was the lack of open recreational spaces, the use of high density, high-rise flats and apartments during the redevelopment in the 60’s
Once again, wealthier people left the inner city, leaving behind pensioners, one-parent families, students and ethnic minorities
Over time, housing was allowed to deteriorate, and as people moved out, boarded-up buildings became common
These attracted squatters, drug users and petty criminals
How urban areas were viewed in 1979-1990s?
The UK government finally took a serious look at urban decline and initiated a project called Urban Development Corporations (UDCs) to bring urban decay to a halt
As well as bringing brownfield sites back into use, to improve housing conditions, it wanted to improve local prospects by offering training for employment to be provided by private investment
What are the achievements and principle of the Enterprise Zones (1981-present)?
Enterprise Zones (EZs) were established in areas of high unemployment, with the hope of attracting companies to the area to boost the local economy by employing the local workforce
The government provided incentives, such as reducing corporation and land taxes, reduced rents and cheaper power supplies
By the end of the 1990s, EZs employed more than 125,000 people over 5000 companies
But, the incentives did encourage existing companies to move their staff and premises to EZs, effectively limiting the creating of new jobs
What are the key principles and achievements of the City Challenge policy (1991-1997)?
Local authorities had the opportunity to complete for government funding to regenerate their deprived areas in a scheme called the City Challenge
Working with local communities and private companies, improvements were made to the, economic, social and physical environment of the area
Funding was allocated directly to local communities to improve housing, education and training, allowing people to access jobs and better healthcare
By the end, over 50,000 jobs were created and 40,000 homes improved, but unfortunately many deprived areas missed out on funding
What are the principles and achievements of Partnership schemes?
In partnership with private companies, the government has provided financial support and expertise for urban regeneration and renewal
Called the Partnership Schemes, its aims are similar to the City Challenge, with the improvements to economic. social and physical environment of deprived areas
Liverpool City Region Local Enterprise Partnership (2012) has increased business activity, created new jobs, provided parks, new affordable homes, regenerated Albert Docks and built new sports and leisure centres
