Challenges Of An Urbanising World

Question 1

How much of the world live in urban areas?

Answer 1

Half

Question 2

What is urbanisation?

Answer 2

The rise in % of people living in urban areas compared to rural

Question 3

What is a mega city?

Answer 3

A city of over 10 million people

Question 4

What is conurbation?

Answer 4

When cities grow so much they merge together (e.g. Tokyo and Yokohama)

Question 5

What is a primate city?

Answer 5

A city that dominates its country’s economic, financial and political systems and usually the biggest population

Question 6

What is a world city?

Answer 6

A mega city with a disproportionate influence in the world(urban primacy)

Question 7

How many mega cities are there in the world?

Answer 7

28

Question 8

How has the distribution of mega cities changed from 1950-2005?

Answer 8

In 2005, there are now clusters if mega cities in Asia, whereas previously many of the mega cities were in Europe above the 50% line and America

Question 9

What is leading to natural increase?

Answer 9

Birth rates being higher then death rates

Question 10

What are some reasons for rapid population growth in mega cities?

Answer 10

Rural to urban migration

more job opportunities to escape poverty

Question 11

What is informal employment?

Answer 11

Jobs which are not taxed or recorded

Question 12

What makes megacities important?

Answer 12

Large economies
Trade
Natural resources
International hubs

Question 13

How do cities influence decision making?

Answer 13

• TNCs are based there meaning they decided where to place FDI which can boost economies and a positive multiplier effect
• political decisions and government is held there which can effect the county and international policies

Question 14

Why is urbanisation urbanisation?

Answer 14

People migrate due to push and pull factors e.g. jobs and mechanisation
Natural increase in population

Question 15

What are some push factors?

Answer 15

Shortage of land
Population pressure
Natural disasters/drought so crops fail
No services or technology 
Poverty

Question 16

What are some pull factors?

Answer 16

Job opportunities with better wages
Less natural disasters
Better services
Better technology and sanitation

Question 17

What do cramp conditions in Indiana settlements mean?

Answer 17

Disease will spread easily so there are possible epidemics

Question 18

What does a lack of sanitation mean in informal settlements?

Answer 18

There is no separate sewage or water systems so waterborne diseases may effect the population

Question 19

What does a lack of infrastructure mean for informal settlements?

Answer 19

Means they are vulnerable to collapsing and damage. This means they are susceptible to injury and diseases as they spread easier

Question 20

What effects does counter urbanisation have on cities?

Answer 20

Results in richer people moving out of the cities leaving the poor. This means less tax is paid to the local government so less services
Also improves access transportation routes as many still work in the CBD making it attractive for investment

Question 21

What effects does industrial relocation have on cities?

Answer 21

Decline in the city centre as jobs will be lost so unemployment increases. This results in people moving out of cities so property prices plummet
Or less tax is paid to the government so worse services and a negative multiplier effect

Question 22

What are some advantages of formal employment?

Answer 22

• working conditions are suitable
• sick pay and maternity leave
• structured working hours
• contracted so much pay at least minimum wage

Question 23

What are some disadvantages of formal employment?

Answer 23

-must pay tax to the government

Question 24

What are some advantages of informal employment?

Answer 24

• no tax paid to the government

- cash in hand

Question 25

What are some disadvantages of informal employment?

Answer 25

• no contract so no minimum wage
• no set hours
• no laws on working conditions
• no paid leave or holiday

Question 26

Why are there high level of informal employment in developing countries?

Answer 26

• children may need to work to support their families
• lack of formal jobs due to urbanisation
• lack of government funding
• lack of education

Question 27

Why might the informal economy be important?

Answer 27

• contributes largely to the GDP
• provides jobs for the majority of the population
• beneficial for the environment e.g. rubbish collection

Question 28

Why is the informal economy not important?

Answer 28

• not paid much

- in developed countries nearly all jobs are formal

Question 29

What is the CBD?

Answer 29

The central part of the city where most commercial land use is located such as offices

Question 30

What is the inner city?

Answer 30

The area between the city centre and suburbs. These streets are usually in grids and roads are tightly packed together (where the old industrial land use was located)

Question 31

What are the inner suburbs?

Answer 31

The area between the inner city and the outer suburbs where streets are not as closely packed or as straight. Most land use is residential

Question 32

What are the outer suburbs and rural to urban fringe?

Answer 32

is the boundary with the green belts. Roads and housing are widely spaced. Most land use is residential but there is also commercial as some business and retail parks are located here

Question 33

What is counter urbanisation?

Answer 33

People leaving towns and cities to live in the country side

Question 34

What is industrial relocation?

Answer 34

Industries moving to developing countries as land and labour are cheaper. This process contributed to the creation of NICs

Question 35

What is regeneration?

Answer 35

Improving an area (brownfield site) by re-developing it

Question 36

What is de industrial relocation?

Answer 36

As a result of industrial relocation, industries shut down as they are no longer economically viable. This can result in a negative multiplier effect.

Question 37

What are greenfield sites?

Answer 37

A site that has not been built on before. Building on it will disrupt natural habitats and could cause deforestation.