Urban Issues and Challenges in LICs/NEEs Flashcards
What is urbanisation?
An increase in the proportion of people living in urban areas
What is a megacity?
A city with a population higher than 10,000,000 people
What is natural increase?
The increase in population resulting from the birth rate being higher than the death rate
What is migration?
The movement of people to a new area or country
What are HICs?
Countries with a GNI per capita of USD$12055 or above
What are LICs?
Countries with a GNI per capita of USD$995 or below
What are NEEs?
Countries that have begun to experience high rates of economic development, usually with rapid industrialisation. They no longer rely primarily on agriculture, have made gains in infrastructure, and are experiencing increasing incomes and levels of investment. Usually categorised as the BRINCS countries: Brazil, Russia, India, Nigeria, China, and South Africa.
Describe the pattern of the location of megacities over time.
In 1950 there were only 2 megacities (New York and Tokyo). This has rapidly increased and now there are roughly 37, over half of which are in Asia. They are usually found in coastal areas.
How do rates of urbanisation vary around the world?
Africa and Asia: currently partially urbanised and rapidly urbanising
North America, South America, and Europe: mostly urbanised already with little urbanisation predicted
Oceania: urbanised already with de-urbanisation predicted
What is natural decrease?
When death rate is higher than birth rate so native population falls
What is death rate?
The ratio of deaths to the population of an area during a period of time, usually no. of deaths:1000 people per year
What is birth rate?
The number of live births per thousand of population per year
What is a push factor?
Something that makes people want to leave a place or escape from a situation
What is a pull factor?
Something that attracts people to go and live in a particular place
How can you calculate total urban population change?
(Birth rate - death rate) + (in migration - out migration)
What are some examples of push factors?
Farming is hard and poorly paid - compounded by desertification and soil erosion
Drought and climatic hazards reduce crop yields, leading to malnutrition or famine
Farming is usually as subsidence level
Few and poor quality schools and hospitals
Rural areas are isolated due to poor roads
What are some examples of pull factors?
There are more well paid jobs
A higher standard of living is possible
People have friends and family living there
There is a better chance of getting an education
Public transport is better
Better quality of housing
Why is there a high proportion of megacities in Asia?
Over half the world’s population lives in Asia
The majority of the population is still rural, but more people are moving to cities
There are lots of push and pull factors
What factors affect the rate of urbanisation?
Migration: rural-urban migration is the main driver of urbanisation. Migrants are usually young.
Location: most cities have grown on busy transport routes, where trade can thrive.
Natural increase: the young population leads to high levels of natural increase.
Economic development: creates jobs, which attracts people.
What is Lagos like?
It is the biggest African city (~15million people) and rapidly growing. There are modern, high rise offices in the CBD and sprawling suburbs. Roads are busy. Some parts are rich, such as the coast, but most is poor, with lots of squatter settlements.
Where is Lagos located?
It is in Nigeria, on the Gulf of Guinea on the west coast of Africa. It is a coastal city found slightly above the equator.
Why is Lagos important?
It used to be the capital of Nigeria before it became Abuja. It still contains ~80% of Nigeria’s industry and is the main financial centre in West Africa with a major international airport and seaport. It is the country’s centre of trade and commerce.
By how many people is Lagos growing every year?
600,000
What are the push factors to Lagos?
Education and health services are poor in rural areas
Climate change is making droughts and floods more common
Farming is the main job. It is hard and pays low wages
Land is degraded by farming, while land in the Niger Delta is polluted by oil
Political unrest and Boko Haram create insecurity