Contemporary urban environments Flashcards
Define Primary industry
Producing raw materials
Eg farming, fishing, logging
Define Secondary industry
Manufacturing raw materials into products
Eg factories
Define Tertiary industry
Services
Eg salesman, fireman
Define Quaternary industry
Highly skilled, knowledge based jobs
Eg biochemical engineering, IT
What are the characteristics of an urban area?
Economy :
Quaternary jobs
Tertiary jobs
High cost of living
Environment : Industrial - high rise buildings, factories Pollution Transport Brownfield sites
People :
Densely populated
Diversity - rich poor divide
Young employed people
Which characteristics do we consider to determine if an area is urban?
Minimum population threshold Population density Proportion of non agricultural employment Infrastructure Education / health services
What percentage of the world population lives in an urban area
1950 / now / 2050
30% in 1950
54% now
66% by 2050
What percentage of global GDP is generated in cities?
80%
What are the reasons for urbanisation?
Natural increase
Rural-urban migration
Define and name the push factors
Factors that push people out of rural areas. Population growth Agricultural problems Disease and lack of medical provision Global agriculture (cash crops) Natural disasters War
Define and name the pull factors
Factors that encourage people into urban areas
Employment in factories / service industry are better paid
Earning money from informal sector e.g. Selling goods on street
Better healthcare
Better quality of life
Name some issues caused by urbanisation
Overcrowding -> lack of resources -> poverty -> spread of disease Pollution -> light, air, sound Cycle of decline in rural areas Unemployment Pressure on housing
Give the consequences of urbanisation
Urban sprawl Shortage of housing in LICs Shortage of housing in HICs Unemployment / under employment Transport issues Lack of urban services / waste disposal Pollution
A consequence of urbanisation is urban sprawl, expand on this
Requires more roads/infrastructure -> pipes, cables, wires
Loss of habitat / farmland -> loss of local food sources
Impact water quality / quantity -> impermeable surfaces
Decentralisation
More commuting from suburbs
More traffic -> air pollution -> higher temps
A consequence of urbanisation is shortage of housing in LICs, expand on this
High population density -> lack of housing -> informal housing (slums)
E.g. Slum upgrading programs aim to improve life for slum dwellers
Give some characteristics of slums
On the edge of cities / low land value Hazard prone e.g. Landslide Next to transport networks Lack of basic infrastructure / services High air / noise / water pollution
A consequence of urbanisation is shortage of housing in HICs, expand on this
Rising demand for housing -> higher cost -> 50% more expensive in London 2010-2015
In migration
Gentrification
A consequence of urbanisation is unemployment and underemployment, expand on this
Young city dwellers -> pressure for enough jobs
Typically high unemployment
Migrants find informal work
A consequence of urbanisation is lack of urban services and waste disposal, expand on this
Lack of money in LICs -> lack of basic services
E.g. Sewers, roads, drainage, traffic jams, disease - polluted water
Lack of water / electricity
5% of water reached slums in 42 Indian cities/ towns 2015
Recycling is important for economy in Nairobi
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia government only deals with 2/3 of waste
1/3 dumped in streets/rivers -> health risk
A consequence of urbanisation is traffic issues, expand on this
Rush hours
More City traffic
Congestion
More pollution -> damage to health
What are the reasons for the rapid rise of megacities?
Globalisation
Economic activity / competition between countries
At what rate are megacities growing in LICs and HICs?
LICs- rapidly growing
HICs- slowly growing
Why are megacities rapidly growing in LICs?
Due to industrialisation
Industries attracted to lower tax rates
Little income tax means governments can’t provide essential services
Many people live in overcrowded, unplanned slums/shanti towns
Many work in ‘informal economy’ / manufacturing
Why are megacities slowly growing in HICs?
Due to merging with other nearby cities -> conurbations
Due to sprawling -> low population density
Most people work in ‘formal economy’
Is large population a characteristic of world cities?
Not necessarily although most do have large populations
Why is there large scale population growth in megacities?
Rural-urban migration by people in search of better economic prospects
(Government policies can encourage greater financial investment, e.g. Establishment of Special Enterpride Zones, china)
What are some problems in megacities?
Growing populations -> strain on resources / infrastructure
LIC megacities sprawl in haphazard fashion
-> lack of employment, housing, basic services
-> concerns on how city authorities can effectively govern megacities
What are some benefits of megacities?
Produce 2/3 more GDP than other cities
Chance to expand access to services e.g. Healthcare, education
Less damage to environment to provide public transport, housing, electricity, water, sanitation in densely populated areas
Larger/ more diversified employment markets
Better education / healthcare -> equality
Centres of innovation -> solve global problems
What are the characteristics of a world city?
Centres of media / communications for global networks
HQs of multinational corporations
Major manufacturing centres with port / container facilities
Domination of the trade / economy of a large surrounding area
Dominance of the national region with great international significance
Financial HQs, stock exchange, major financial institutions
Centres of new ideas -> innovation in business, economics, culture, politics
Global decision making power
High proportion of employment in services information sectors
High quality education, renowned uni’s, international students
Multi functional infrastructure, best legal, medical, entertainment
