Challenges of an urbanising world Flashcards
Is the urban population growing in both the present and the future?
The world’s urban population is growing, and will continue to grow in the future. Urban cities will grow at an accelerated rate in developing countries, whereas the urban population in developed cities will grow more gradually.
Define a megacity
Megacities are defined as cities with populations over 10 million people.
Describe the global pattern of megacities
Megacities are found around the world but are mainly concentrated in Asia. They steadily grow so all their, water supplies, food, doctors and schools can cope with the population growth and there is little inequality
What is a negative of a megacity in some cases
If a megacity was to rapidly expand, sometimes this means that the infrastructure may be under high pressure. This leads to inequalities such as squatter settlements.
What are the 3 factors which affect influence of a mega city around the world
Political decisions
Migration and travel
Businesses
How do political decisions affect influence of a megacity around the world
Leaders of world cities make decisions that can impact other areas of the world. Such as being allied to another country or adopting more sustainable policies
How does migration and travel affect influence of a megacity around the world
World cities tend to have large international airports that see many tourists, business people and migrants passing through. Cities that are common stop off points for long flights are important.
How do Businesses affect influence of a megacity around the world
A city can be a hub for local and international businesses. TNCs want to have their headquarters in world cities as they are more connected to the rest of the world. As a business in a world city adds to their brand
How do urban economies differ in developing, emerging and developed countries
Developed countries tend to have a large proportion of formal workers where workers have contracts, whereas developing countries have a large proportion of informal workers who find their own work
What are the 3 factors which may alter urban population numbers, distribution and spatial growth over time
Rural to Urban migration
Suburbanisation
Counter Urbanisation
What is rural to Urban migration
When people who live in rural areas migrate to an urban city for work opportunities this maybe because of push and pull factors
Name one cause of natural population increase
Natural increase. when the Birthrates outnumber the death rates. This maybe because of Healthcare improving, better built warning systems for disasters and government policies that allow time off and better care in workspaces for pregnant women
What are some push and pull factors
Push:
-Rural jobs don’t pay well
-climate change is making farming in rural areas difficult
-rural towns have limited access to services
Pull:
-urban areas have higher paid jobs
-better education
-Public transport
-Better healthcare
What is suburbanisation
As the city builds some residents prefer a quieter quality of life, so they move to the suburbs of the city
What are the reasons to move to the suburbs
Less traffic congestion
more land per house
Lower crime rate
more green areas
How can Governments encourage suburbanisation
-By building new transport links to the periphery of the city
-Allowing new house developments on greenfield land surrounding the city
What is the negative of suburbaisation
suburbanisation increases the size of the city and could become too sprawling with too little services and facilities, which would impact the quality of life for residents
What is counter-urbanisation
if a city becomes too large and has too many problems residents may want to move away from the city
What are the reasons for counter-urbanisation
-Houses and apartments cost too much
-Very little job opportunities
-Schools are too full
-limited leisure facilities such as parks
- increasing crime rate
What is deindustrialiation
When some cities have declining economies, where businesses leave the city or become bankrupt.
What is the impacts of deindustrialisation
-Workers can lose their jobs/ higher levels of unemployment
-Many people won’t be able to afford commodities such as going out or buying new clothes. leading to local businesses to lose profit
-Families would be left without food or get evicted from their houses
What is the impact of deindustrialisation on the city
High unemployment may mean an increases of crime rate damaging the cities image
Describe the characteristics of urban land use
Cities tend to follow a pattern of similar structures. Land in the city is used for different purposes residential, industrial or commercial which depends on the characteristics of the land
Describe How cities are structured
Cities look like tree rings, with the oldest cities in the centre and the youngest buildings on the outside (periphery). The city also has small wedges linking all the rings for transportation.
Describe the centre of a city
The centre is called the CBD (central business district), which is the location of different shops, restaurants, tourist attractions and office blocks. They most expensive area is in the CBD, in terms of land and services
Name the order of city in tree rings
CBD
high income housing
low income housing
middle income housing
Explain why the middle income housing is located in the suburbs (periphery)
As land is cheaper in the suburbs more land can be bought for larger homes
Describe the layout of a city in developing cities
The poorest families live in the suburbs (periphery). the order of rings are
CBD
High income families
Middle income families
Low income families (shanty towns)
What are the challenges in Mumbai
Slums
Traffic congestion
Sweatshops and informal work
Polluted waters
What are Top down projects
Large scale fundamental projects (cleaner water, more electricity), which help poorer areas of a city. These projects are usually done by the government
What are bottom up projects
Small scale projects that are focused on helping small families they are not government projects but rather charities and universities etc.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of a Top down project
+
Large scale, means that they benefit a large amount of people
Due to large construction many job opportunities are creates
~
Locals have little voice and small villages may be evicted against their will
These projects tend to involve a large amount of concrete, which produce large amounts of CO2 emmisions
What are the advantages and disadvantages of a bottom up project
+
Bottom up projects tend to focus on the poorest families. which reduces poverty and inequality
They are relatively cheap so the organizers can help a large number of families
~
The organizers rely on voluntary donations rather than government funding, which limits the amount of people the organizers can help
They tend to have improper training or planning, these projects could be unsuccessful
How can cities cope with counter-urbanisation?
Find new technologies to keep up with other cities. E.g: Detroit has been largely abandoned due to the failing car industry
What is re-urbanisation?
A place that has a resurgence in people moving there after experiencing counter-urbanisation
What is regeneration?
The redevelopment of older, run-down inner city areas to attract people to live closer. This includes new shopping centres, flats, houses, etc.
E.g: Birmingham
What is a world city?
A city that trades and invests globally.
Name a developing, emerging and developed country (case studys)
Malawi
India
UK
What are the characteristics of the Inner Suburbs
Lower population density than CBD and Inner City
Residential area with semi-detatched housing
Land prices cheaper than CBD and Inner City
Local shops and places of worship are common
Less congestion
What are the characteristics of the Outer Suburbs?
Detached houses
Modern housing estates (newer and more expensive)
Land prices cheaper than CBD and Inner City
Local shops and places of worship are common
What is the population of Mumbai (2015)?
16 million
What are Mumbai’s national connections?
Holds India’s 2nd biggest port
Accessible by road and rail
Only 2 hours to other Indian cities by air
Name 2 manufacturing jobs in Mumbai
Textile industry
Car production
Name 2 high pay service sector jobs in Mumbai
Finance
IT
How is traffic congestion an issue in Mumbai?
1.8 million cars owned: gridlocked
90% of people travel by rail: delays
Pedestrians and traditional transport increase traffic