Mexico City Case Study Flashcards
What is Mexico City’s significance in transportation?
Central hub for railways and roads linking North and South America
What was Mexico City’s GDP in 2011?
$411 billion
What does the Central Business District (CBD) of Mexico City house?
Banks, insurance, government offices, private company headquarters
What characterizes the Inner City of Mexico City?
Middle-class zones of aging apartment blocks and high-quality modern apartments
What are the areas beyond the Inner City known for?
Industrial areas, gated luxury communities, older tenements, squatter settlements
What is the Urban-Rural Fringe of Mexico City known for?
Slums and shanty towns known as ‘periférico’
What does the Land Use Model in Mexico City include?
Market area, spine with elite housing and shopping centers, disamenity zones, peripheral zones of squatter settlements
What drives rural-to-urban migration in Mexico City?
Better job opportunities, housing, education, and healthcare
What is a significant cause of national migration to Mexico City?
Poor regions with low literacy, inadequate housing, and lack of clean water
What attracts international migrants to Mexico City?
Job opportunities, cultural life, and the dominating service sector
What is the impact of migration on housing in Mexico City?
High-pressure on housing leads to the expansion of shanty settlements
What contributes to increasing inequality in Mexico City?
Informal economy, competition for limited jobs, and lower wages
What is the consequence of uneven distribution of services in Mexico City?
Drastic differences in diet, health, and living standards
What issues do poor migrants face regarding housing?
Live in slums lacking toilets, running water, and stable roofs
What percentage of homes in wealthy areas have access to piped water?
98%
What is the infant mortality rate like in poorer areas of Mexico City?
Higher due to limited access to essential services
What contributes to air pollution in Mexico City?
Industrial operations emitting greenhouse gases
What is the purpose of the Metrobus system in Mexico City?
Reduce air pollution and transport costs
What is Plan Verde?
A 15-year plan to develop alternative energy programs and reduce air pollution
What initiative encourages recycling in Mexico City?
Farmer’s markets where families can exchange recyclable waste for green vouchers
What was the approximate population of Mexico City in the 1950s?
Approximately 2 million
What was the population of Mexico City by 2010?
Approximately 19 million
What was the annual growth rate of Mexico City during the 1950s?
5.5 percent
What was the annual growth rate of Mexico City by the year 2000?
0.8 percent
What is the most populated metropolitan area in the Western Hemisphere?
Greater Mexico City
What factor contributed to rapid population growth in Mexico City during the 1950s?
Natural increase due to high birth rate and fall in death rate
What type of migration primarily contributes to the population growth in Mexico City?
National migration from rural areas
What are some reasons people migrate to Mexico City from rural areas?
- Alternative jobs to farming
- Better housing
- Clean water
- Improved health care
What has the need for homes in Mexico City led to?
More self-built housing at the city edge and larger shanty towns
What is the impact of migration on the use of open space in Mexico City?
Greater use of open space due to higher population
What is national migration?
Movement of people within a country
What is international migration?
Movement of people to a different country
Explain one cause of population growth for a city in a developing or emerging country.
Rural-urban migration caused by lack of job opportunities and poor housing in the countryside
What demographic trend is observed among many migrants moving to Mexico City?
Many migrants are young adults
What social issue has risen due to the lack of jobs for migrants in Mexico City?
Increased rates of crime
What environmental issues are exacerbated by the rise in car ownership in Mexico City?
- Air pollution
- Noise pollution
What is a consequence of fear of crime in Mexico City?
Segregation of people with wealthier living in gated communities
What challenges does Mexico City face regarding clean water supply?
Difficulties in supplying clean water due to rising demand
What has increased economic investment in Mexico City led to?
Increased job opportunities through investment in construction of factories and offices
What is a significant consequence of rapid urban growth in developing countries?
Increasing inequalities
This includes disparities between rich and poor populations.
What are the two extremes of wealth distribution in rapidly urbanizing cities?
Extreme wealth and extreme poverty
This results in stark contrasts in living conditions.
What is the minimum wage in Mexico City and how does it compare to actual wages?
Minimum wage should be US$4 per day, but about 1 in 3 workers are paid less
This highlights wage disparities in the city.
How much more do the top 20 percent earn compared to the bottom 20 percent in Mexico City?
Top 20 percent earn as much as 13 times more than the bottom 20 percent
This illustrates extreme income inequality.
What is the average school attendance for the poorest 10 percent in Mexico City?
Average only two years of school attendance
This contrasts sharply with the richest 10 percent, who average 12 years.
What services are lacking in shanty towns compared to wealthier areas in Mexico City?
No running water, electricity, or food shops
Wealthier residents have access to large houses with gardens and swimming pools.
What is one major environmental impact of rapid urbanization in Mexico City?
Pollution
High levels of air pollution are caused by the large number of cars.
What health issues arise due to waste management problems in Mexico City?
Spread of diseases like cholera and typhoid
This occurs from sewage leaking into the water supply.
What is a housing issue faced by migrants in Mexico City?
Housing shortages
Many migrants live on garbage dumps or in squatter settlements.
What are squatter settlements?
Illegally built homes made out of waste materials
These settlements often lack basic services.
What is the issue of under-employment in rapidly urbanizing areas?
People work seven days a week doing more than one type of job
This reflects economic instability and lack of opportunities.
What is a significant waste management challenge in Mexico City?
Struggles to dispose of 13,000 tonnes of rubbish generated daily
Waste is often dumped on the streets.
True or False: Mexico City has low levels of air pollution due to its mountainous surroundings.
False
The mountains trap pollutants, increasing air pollution.
What are top-down projects?
Large-scale projects usually funded and managed by city governments.
What are bottom-up projects?
Small-scale projects often funded by NGOs or community organisations.
What is Cultiva Ciudad?
A project working with local schools to educate children about managing a garden.
What initiative has been taken by residents regarding rooftop gardens?
Residents are growing healthy foods on rooftop gardens.
What community effort is taking place on the outskirts of Mexico City?
Locals are raising money to help build schools and health centres.
What is the Metrobus system?
A sustainable transport scheme introduced by Mexico City’s government in 2005.
How much CO2 emissions is the Metrobus estimated to reduce annually?
35,000 tonnes.
How many people does the Metrobus transport daily?
Approximately 250,000 people.
By how much has the Metrobus reduced average journey times?
By 30 minutes, from 1.5 hours to 1 hour.
What is the cost of the homes designed by Tatiana Bilbao?
US$8,000.
How much solid waste does Mexico City produce daily?
An estimated 13,000 tonnes.
What is the purpose of the ‘barter market’ established in Mexico City?
Residents exchange waste for vouchers to be traded for food.
