Urban Change Flashcards
How do cities develop economically as they urbanise?
Cities attract people from rural areas because they offer more job opportunities, and jobs are often better paid.
> As the urban population increases, businesses such as factories and shops grow in size and become more profitable.
How do cities develop socially as they urbanise?
> Cities tend to have higher living standards than rural areas, e.g. better access to healthcare and education, which attracts people.
> The migration of people into urban areas increases the mix of people from social backgrounds. This can make people more tolerant of others, creating a more welcoming environment that attracts tourists/migrants.
How do cities develop technologically as they urbanise?
> Due to the emergence of factories in cities, urban areas become hotspots for technological advancement.
> More recently areas with a large number of high-tech industries have emerged, e.g. Silicon Valley in California. These areas attract people because they offer specialised and highly-paid jobs.
How do cities develop Politically as they urbanise?
> Urban growth may result in increased inequalities between rich and poor people. A new ‘working class’ emerges often made up of people who work in manufacturing industries.
> New political movements emerge to represent the ‘working class population. Political reform focuses on issues that affect urban life e.g. poor sanitation, quality of housing and working conditions in factories.
How do cities develop demographically as they urbanise?
> As cities become larger and wealthier, they attract migrants from all over the world. Urban areas become more culturally and ethnically diverse and new areas emerge.
> Many young people are attracted by jobs and entertainment. They often choose to stay and raise families in the city, so cities tend to have a younger population than rural areas.
What are urban development corporations?
By 1979, many UK city centres were in catastrophic decline. Urban development corporations used private sector funding to restore derelict areas.
> The first UDCs were established in 1981 in the London Docklands and Liverpool. The main aims of the London Docklands UDCs were to attract new businesses, improve the local environment, create jobs and build new houses.
What are enterprise zones?
> In 1981, enterprise zones were established in areas with high unemployment. Their aim was to attract start-up companies to the area to create jobs- they did this by reducing tax.
> By 1990, enterprise zones housed over 5000 companies, employing more than 125, 000 people. However, tax reductions encouraged many existing companies to move their premises, resulting in a loss of jobs.
What is the city challenge programme?
> In the city challenge programme, local authorities completed government funding to regenerate deprived urban areas. They worked with the local community and private companies to improve the physical, economical and social environment.
> Funding was allocated to projects that benefitted the local community e.g. improving housing and creating jobs for local people. By 1997, over 50,000 jobs had been created and 40000 houses improved.
What are partnership schemes?
> Since 2010, the government has worked with private companies to provide financial support and expertise for urban regeneration- these are called partnership schemes.
> These schemes are designed to improve physical, social and economical conditions in deprived areas e.g. by building new homes, providing parks and sports centres, and reducing unemployment.
