Urban Environments 6.2 Urbanisation and the Rise of Megacities

Question 1

What are the main factors affecting the rate of urbanisation? (2)

Answer 1

• the pace of economic development (when growth of secondary and tertiary sectors is fast, so is pace of urbanisation)
• the rate of population growth (demand for workers causes rural-urban migration)

Question 2

megacity (4)

Answer 2

• city with population over 10 million
• there are now 35
• over half are in asia
• they become powerful cores that create large peripheries around them

Question 3

what are the factors that encourage the growth of megacities? (4)

Answer 3

• economic development
• population growth
• multiplier effect
• economies of scale

Question 4

Economies of Scale (3)

Answer 4

• there are advantages to fitting as much as possible into one megacity, rather than splitting into multiple
• because distances within a megacity are less, there are economies of scale in terms of transport
• also communication between people and businesses will be easier

Question 5

economies of scale short definition

Answer 5

cost advantages through efficiency, cost spread out over a larger number of goods

Question 6

the Multiplier effect (3)

Answer 6

• once a large city is prospering, it gains momentum that carries it forward
• this leads to more prosperity and growth
• there are more jobs, so more people move there, which means more people who need goods and services, which in turn creates more jobs

Question 7

What are the problems associated with megacities? (2)

Answer 7

• worst aspect is their impact at a national level

- they grow and prosper at the expense of towns, cities and regions in other parts of the country

Question 8

core

Answer 8

the most important economic, political and social area of a country or global region; a centre of power

Question 9

periphery

Answer 9

an area remote or isolated from the centre (core) of a country; it generally lags in terms of development and influence

Question 10

Global or world cities (5)

Answer 10

• can be any size, but all have populations over 1 million
• there are 31, 7 of them are megacities
• global cities are recognised worldwide as places of great prestige, status, power and influence
• they are all critical hubs in the growing global economy
• the most important= London, New York and Tokyo