Outline and discuss key factors driving increased Caribbean urbanization during the twentieth century. Flashcards
Level & Pace of Urbanization in the Caribbean
HIGH Levels: population in urban areas
the Bahamas, Cayman Island, Dominican Republic, Martinique, Puerto Rico, Trinidad and Tobago, and US Virgin Islands
Level & Pace of Urbanization in the Caribbean
MODERATE Levels:
Barbados,
Guadeloupe,
St. Kitts and Nevis
and St. Lucia
Level & Pace of Urbanization in the Caribbean
(Relatively) LOW Levels:
Montserrat, Haiti, St. Vincent, Antigua and Barbuda
Level & Pace of Urbanization in the Caribbean: Urban Growth
HIGH (>2.8%)
Antigua and Barbuda, Dominican Republic, Haiti, Montserrat, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and Guyana
Level & Pace of Urbanization in the Caribbean: Urban Growth
LOW
Cayman Islands, Cuba, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Puerto Rico and Trinidad and Tobago
Urban Growth
=>cities with high levels of urbanization have low growth rates and vice-versa
=>a possible slowing down of urban growth in countries with high levels of urbanization
Some Outcomes of Urbanisation
Increase in large cities (+100,000)
1950=7 cities in region
1970=12 cities
Late 1980s=at least 24
Some Outcomes of Urbanisation (2)
Urban Primacy
1st ranked city several times larger than next ranked city
Generally, +40% of nation’s population
Some Outcomes of Urbanisation (3)
Kingston:
1970-12x larger than Spanish Town+Montego Bay
1982-6x larger than “ + 7.5x “
2005-4x larger than “ + 7x “
-reducing urban primacy
Some Outcomes of Urbanisation (4)
Cuba:
Havana= 5x larger than Santiago de Cuba
7.5x larger than Camaguey
Puerto Rico:
San Juan=7x larger than Ponce
Factors Driving Urbanisation
Rural-urban migration
Natural increase
Economic diversification
Historical antecedents
Factors Driving Urbanisation (2)
Rural-urban migration:
Stepwise up urban hierarchy
Some direct to capital
Flow of migrants declines with distance from capital
Push: rural poverty, low earnings, small farm holdings, low status
Pull: better employment, more educational facilities, higher status jobs, more services
Factors Driving Urbanisation (3)
Natural Increase:
High levels of births in relation to deaths
Improvements in health
Increased access to medical facilities
Factors Driving Urbanisation (4)
Economic Diversification:
Industrialization
Tourism
Mining
Factors Driving Urbanisation (5)
Historical Antecedents:
Colonization
Sugar plantations
Slavery
Challenges of Urbanisation in the Caribbean
Unemployment:
Since 1930s in Jamaica
Higher rates for urban areas
Linked to social instability
Challenges of Urbanisation in the Caribbean
Crime: World Bank-6 categories of urban violence 1) political 2) gang 3) drug 4) economic 5) interpersonal 6) domestic
Challenges of Urbanisation in the Caribbean
Crime:
low investor confidence
economic decline
movement of business out of affected area
high health and police costs
disaffection and migration of urban middle class
higher mortality and morbidity rates
reduced access to social services
breakdown of community spirit
gender related violence
Challenges of Urbanisation in the Caribbean
Informal Settlements:
UN Habitat- Jamaica = 36% of urban dwellers Trinidad & Tobago = 32% Haiti = 86% Guatemala = 62%
Challenges of Urbanisation in the Caribbean
Environmental Management:
Parish Councils dependent on Central Government
Inadequate resources
Inadequate infrastructure/processing
Health problems: respiratory problems, malaria, birth defects
Challenges of Urbanisation in the Caribbean
Transportation:
Inability of modes and processes of transportation to keep pace with urban population
Congestion, pollution, long waiting times, poor road conditions, increased number of private vehicles
