*Urban Futures Theory

Question 1

Define urbanisation

Answer 1

Urbanisation is the growth in the proportion of a country’s population living in urban areas.

Question 2

Define megacity

Answer 2

A megacity is an urban area with over 10 million people living there. It can be a single city, or a conurbation - where neighbouring towns and cities have spread and merged.

Question 3

Define world city

Answer 3

A world city is a city that has an influence over the whole world.
* Many people and goods from international destinations pass through.
* Centre for trade and business.
* Hub for culture and science.
* International media centres.

Question 4

How has distribution of megacities and world cities changed since 1950?

Answer 4

• In 1950 the biggest and most influential cities were in advanced countries. Only Tokyo and New York were megacities.
• By 2014 there were 28 megacities (41 projected by 2030), with more than two-thirds in EDCs and LIDCs, mostly in Asia.
• In 1950 only London, Paris, Tokyo and New York were world cities.
• There are now many world cities, most still in ACs, but some in EDCs.

Question 5

Define natural increase

Answer 5

Natural increase is the difference between the number of births and number of deaths.

Question 6

Define birth rate

Question 7

Define death rate

Question 8

Define rural-to-urban migration

Answer 8

Rural-to-urban migration is the movement of people from the countryside to the cities.

Question 9

Define push factor

Question 10

Explain push factors from rural areas.

Answer 10

• Natural disasters can damage property and farmland, which people can’t afford to repair.
• Mechanisation of mechanical equipment - farmers require fewer jobs so there are fewer jobs.
• Drought can make land unproductive, so people can no longer support themselves.
• Conflict or war can cause people to leave their homes.

Question 11

Define pull factor

Question 12

Explain pull factors to urban areas.

Answer 12

• There are more - often better paid - jobs.
• Access to better healthcare and education.
• To join other family members who have already moved.
• People think they will have a better quality of life.

Question 13

Define internal growth

Answer 13

Internal growth is when the birth rate is higher than the death rate.

Question 14

Explain reasons for greater internal growth in cities.

Answer 14

Birth rate tends to be higher in cities because it’s normally young people that move to urban area (to find work) then have children in the cities.
In LIDCs, better healthcare can be found in cities than in rural areas, so people in cities live longer, reducing death rates and increasing the proportion of people living in cities.

Question 15

Explain economic consequences of rapid urban growth in LIDCs.

Answer 15

• There may not be enough jobs, leading to unemployment.
• Lots of people work in the informal sector, where jobs aren’t taxed or regulated by the government, leading to long hours and poor pay.
• People may not be able to access education and develop the skills needed to get better jobs.

Question 16

Explain social consequences of rapid urban growth in LIDCs.

Answer 16

• There aren’t enough houses so many live in poorly built and overcrowded squatter settlements (i.e. slums/shanty towns).
• Infrastructure can’t be built fast enough, so people often don’t have access to basic services, causing poor health.
• There can be high levels of crime.

Question 17

Explain environmental consequences of rapid urban growth in LIDCs.

Answer 17

Waste infrastructure can’t keep up.
* Rubbish often isn’t collected or ends up in big rubbish heaps.
* Sewage and toxic chemicals can get into rivers, harming wildlife.
* Congestion as the road system can’t keep up causes increased greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution.

Question 18

Define suburbanisation

Answer 18

Suburbanisation is the movement of people from the city centres to the outskirts.

Question 19

Define counter-urbanisation

Answer 19

Counter-urbanisation is the movement of people away from large urban areas to smaller settlements and rural areas.

Question 20

Define re-urbanisation

Answer 20

Re-urbanisation is the movement of people back into urban areas.

Question 21

Explain pull factors to city centres.

Question 22

Explain push factors from city centres.

Question 23

Explain pull factors to suburbs.

Question 24

Explain push factors from suburbs.

Question 25

Explain pull factors to smaller settlements and rural areas.

Question 26

Explain push factors from smaller settlements and rural areas.