Urban Challenges Flashcards
What is Urbanisation?
The process by which an increasing percentage of a country’s population comes to live in towns and cities. Rapid urbanisation is a feature of many (L)ow (I)ncome (C)ountries and (N)ewly (E)merging (E)conomies.
How is the world’s urban population changing?
Over 50% of the world’s population now lives in cities and by 2050 this will rise to 70%.
How do rates of urbanisation vary around the world?
In most HICs, over 60% of population lives in cities. NEEs (Newly Emerging Economies) such as India,China and Nigeria have the largest growth- account for 37% of projected world growth by 2050.
Anomalies: South America- NEEs like Brazil experienced urbanisation earlier and is now slowing down.
What are Megacities?
Megacities are cities with a population over 10 million. In 2015 there was 28 and by 2050 UN estimates there will be as many 50,with rapid growth in South/South-East Asia and Africa.
Two main reasons for the rapid growth of urban areas in LICs and NEEs.
- Natural increase: Due to lack of contraception; better medical facilities and higher life expectancy.
- Rural-urban migration: Push and pull factors- reasons for people wanting to move away from and to the urban areas. (T)rans (N)ational (C)orporations offering jobs and better pay and skills; perception of life.
Two main reasons for slow urban growth in HICs?
Process of rural-urban migration in HICs happened much earlier than LICs and NEEs E.g UK 83% (2015);Bangladesh 34% (2015) source: World bank.
Many cities in HICs are already crowded = counter-urbanisation (moving back to rural areas) as easier to commute or work from home via internet technology.
How important is location in the growth of (mega)cities?
Historically, cities grow on rivers and coast where ports can thrive through trade on busy transport routes e.g Shanghai,China.
What are the differences in push factors which lead to rural (countryside) - urban (city) migration esp in LICs + NEEs?
‘Push’ factors are the perceived disadvantages of living in a rural area e,g social rural areas are isolated due to poor roads; economic farming is often subsistence, producing only enough food for the family, leaving nothing to sell; environmental drought and climate hazards reduce crop yields.
What are the differences in pull factors which lead to rural (countryside) - urban (city) migration esp in LICs + NEEs?
‘Pull’ factors are the perceived advantages of living in an urban area e.g social better access to education,transport and medical facilities. Economic there are better paid jobs and higher standard of living. Environmental there a improved housing and recreation spaces.
Distinguish between the terms Site and Situation?
Site physical Characteristics of the ground on which a settlement is located whereas Situation is the location of a settlement relative to its surroundings (described in relation to other settlements, rivers, roads etc.)
Giving an example, Outline the advantages of a site for a chosen city within a LIC or a NEE.
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (NEE):
Site in a natural large bay - Guanabara Bay - on the Atlantic coast = a 5 ports exporting coffee, sugar and iron ore.
UNESCO World Heritage Site with stunning beaches such as Copacabana and Ipanema.
Outline how an urban area in LIC or NEE has grown.
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (NEE):
How: Rio is Brazil’s second largest city with rapid growth in the last 50 years from 3.2 million (1960) to 6.5 million (2014)
Outline why an urban area in LIC or NEE has grown.
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (NEE):
Why: Brazil’s capital until 1960, it is the second largest most important industrial centre in the country, producing 5% of Brazil’s GDP through manufacturing such as chemicals; service industries such as banking and tourism. (esp. Following 2014 World Cup and 2016 Olympics) = ‘global city’ with 5 ports and 3 airports.
Outline why an urban area in LIC or NEE has grown part 2.
Attracted many migrants from Brazil (e.g Amazon Basin) and other countries (e.g Portugal (common language); entrepreneurs from S.Korea and china; skilled workers from UK and USA) = Racially mixed population.
Outline how land uses in an urban area in an LIC or NEE show inequalities of wealth.
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (NEE):
North Zone: Main industrial and port area = low quality housing and favelas.
West Zone: Barra de Tijuxa changed from lower class to wealthy suburb, no with main Olympic stadium (2016).
South Zone: Rio’s main tourist hotels for Copacabana and Ipanema with wealthy apartments overlooked by Rocinha (largest favela in S.America).
Centro: Historic Centre with (C)entral (B)usiness (D)istrict main shopping area + headquarters (HQs) of Brazil’s largest TNCs e.g Petrobas (oil company).
