Social And Economic Issues Associated With Urbanisation

Question 1

Reasons for Economic Inequality

Answer 1

• Housing types and values can vary within very small areas, leading to different social groups occupying the area
• Housing neighbourhoods change over time, for example large town houses may have been converted into flats for rent, and formerly run-down areas may have been gentrified
• When migrants arrive in a new country, they are attracted to large urban areas for jobs, but may find this difficult initially and start on low wages. They can therefore afford only the cheapest housing and therefore ethnic groups start to cluster in multicultural areas that persist for generations

Question 2

Reasons for Ethnic Segregation in Cities

Answer 2

• Traditionally, migrants have been a source of cheap labour, forcing them into areas of cheap housing
• Ethnic minorities have been discriminated against in access to local authority housing.
• They have also been less successful in securing mortgage loans
• Hostility (aggression) from the majority population
• Movement of the majority population out of the area into which minority population have moved. Often referred to as the ‘white flight’
• Migrants seek the support and security of living near friends and relatives within an ethnic minority community
• Provision of specialist facilities such as places of worship and food shops
• Protection against racial abuse and attacks from the majority population
• Maintenance of culture, language and traditions

Question 3

Define Cultural Diversity

Answer 3

Cultural diversity is the existence of a variety of cultural or ethnic groups within a place