Urban Issues and Challenges

Question 1

Urbanization

Answer 1

The growth of the population of people living in urban areas.

Question 2

What are the 2 main causes for urbanization

Answer 2

1. Rural to urban migration (push and pull factors)
2. Natural increase (birth rate is higher than death rate)

Question 3

What 4 factors have lead to urbanisation and megacities

Answer 3

• Economic development (encompasses everything)
• Migration (push and pull factors)
• Location (river, near coast, docks create easy jobs)
• Natural increase (younger people are of child bearing age)

Question 4

Where is Rio de Janeiro

Answer 4

• South east coast of Brazil.
• Surrounded by 10 different countries in south america.
• Sits just above the tropic of cancer, near the equator.
• Very close to the city of Sau Paulo and the south Atlantic.

Question 5

Why is Rio important regionally

Answer 5

• Main services are banking, finance, and insurance.
• Stunning natural surroundings make it one of the most visited cities in south america.

Question 6

Why is Rio important nationally

Answer 6

• Brazil’s second most industrial centre, producing 5% of Brazil’s GDP.
• Main manufacturing industries are chemicals, pharmaceuticals, clothing, furniture, and processed food.

Question 7

Why is Rio important globally

Answer 7

• It hosted matches during the 2014 world cup and the 2016 Olympics.
• The statue of Christ the redeemer is one of the Seven New Wonders of the World.
• A major port, exports coffee, sugar, and iron ore.

Question 8

Migration in Rio

Answer 8

Migration is when people move from one area or country to another. It has been responsible for 65% of the growth in Rio over the last 150 years.

Question 9

Social and economic opportunities in Rio - Energy

Answer 9

99% of Rio has access to energy due to Hydro Electric Power (HEP) this improves peoples welfare.

Question 10

Social and economic opportunities in Rio - Healthcare

Answer 10

There are 105 hospitals. Life expectancy is increasing and infant mortality is decreasing.

Question 11

Social and economic opportunities in Rio - Education

Answer 11

Illiteracy is 4%.
There are 1000 primary schools and 400 secondary schools.
19 of the top 50 schools in Brazil are in Rio.

Question 12

Social and economic opportunities in Rio - Water

Answer 12

95% of the population have access to clean water which means better sanitation of health.

Question 13

Why has Rio grown so much economically in recent years?

Answer 13

• It has high income per head
• It has a large industrial centre
• It has a growing population
• Oil has been discovered off shore
• It is a popular tourist destination.

Question 14

Social and economic challenges in Rio - Education

Answer 14

• Only half continue education after 14. (start getting involved in drug trafficking to support family).
• There is a shortage of schools, money, teachers, and training.
• Favela children have a hard time accessing education.
• 2015, 129,000 children missed a class due to violence in areas.

Question 15

Social and economic challenges in Rio - Healthcare

Answer 15

• Only 55% of the city had a local family health clinic.
• Access is particularly poor for pregnant women and the elderly.
• There has been many disputes due to a lack of money, government had often failed to fix it.
• Favelas are inaccessible making it difficult to provide decent care for the most vulnerable.

Question 16

Social and economic challenges in Rio - Unemployment

Answer 16

• Most work in the informal economy in favelas.
• Work in the informal sector is less than £60 a month.
• Unemployment rates are over 20%.
• About one third of Rios 3.5 million workers don’t have a formal contract.
• People work as street vendors, maids, drivers, or laborers.

Question 17

Social and economic challenges in Rio - Energy

Answer 17

• There are frequent blackouts
• The poorest will often illegally tap into the electricity supply.
• Most energy is HEP meaning a reliance on water.

Question 18

Social and economic challenges in Rio - Water supply

Answer 18

• 12% of the population have no access to water.
• Estimated 37% of water is lost through leaky pipes.
• Reservoirs across SE Brazil have been declared empty.
• Very poor water quality. Sewage.
• Only half of Rios waste water is treated.
• Complicated water relations between Sau Paulo and Rio.

Question 19

Social and economic opportunities in Rio - Crime

Answer 19

• Murder, kidnapping, carjacking, and armed assault occur regularly.
• Powerful gangs such as the Red Command control drug trafficking in the favelas.
• In 2013 pacifying police units were created to reclaim favelas from drug dealers.

Question 20

(Rio) Formal sector jobs

Answer 20

Jobs in this sector are secure, paid well and taxed.

Question 21

(Rio) Informal sector jobs

Answer 21

Jobs in this sector are not secure, poorly, paid, and do not have unemployment benefit.