Urban Issues and Challenges in LICs/NEEs Flashcards

1
Q

What is urbanisation?

A

An increase in the proportion of people living in urban areas

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2
Q

What is a megacity?

A

A city with a population higher than 10,000,000 people

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3
Q

What is natural increase?

A

The increase in population resulting from the birth rate being higher than the death rate

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4
Q

What is migration?

A

The movement of people to a new area or country

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5
Q

What are HICs?

A

Countries with a GNI per capita of USD$12055 or above

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6
Q

What are LICs?

A

Countries with a GNI per capita of USD$995 or below

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7
Q

What are NEEs?

A

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.

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8
Q

Describe the pattern of the location of megacities over time.

A

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.

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9
Q

How do rates of urbanisation vary around the world?

A

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

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10
Q

What is natural decrease?

A

When death rate is higher than birth rate so native population falls

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11
Q

What is death rate?

A

The ratio of deaths to the population of an area during a period of time, usually no. of deaths:1000 people per year

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12
Q

What is birth rate?

A

The number of live births per thousand of population per year

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13
Q

What is a push factor?

A

Something that makes people want to leave a place or escape from a situation

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14
Q

What is a pull factor?

A

Something that attracts people to go and live in a particular place

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15
Q

How can you calculate total urban population change?

A

(Birth rate - death rate) + (in migration - out migration)

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16
Q

What are some examples of push factors?

A

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

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17
Q

What are some examples of pull factors?

A

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

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18
Q

Why is there a high proportion of megacities in Asia?

A

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

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19
Q

What factors affect the rate of urbanisation?

A

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.

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20
Q

What is Lagos like?

A

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.

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21
Q

Where is Lagos located?

A

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.

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22
Q

Why is Lagos important?

A

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.

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23
Q

By how many people is Lagos growing every year?

A

600,000

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24
Q

What are the push factors to Lagos?

A

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

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25
Q

What are the pull factors to Lagos?

A

More jobs are available
There are more schools and universities
More healthcare is available at cheaper rates
There is more informal work e.g. street vendors, and opportunities for high skilled work

26
Q

What is the informal economy?

A

Employment comprising work done without official knowledge of the government and therefore without paying taxes

27
Q

What is the formal economy?

A

Work with set hours, a monthly wage, healthy working conditions and that pays tax

28
Q

What is GDP?

A

Gross domestic product - the total value of goods produced and services provided in a country in one year

29
Q

What is the CBD?

A

Central business district - the commercial and business centre of a city

30
Q

What is inequality?

A

The difference between poverty and wealth, as well as people’s wellbeing and access to things like jobs, housing and education

31
Q

What have been the consequences of rapid urbanisation in Lagos?

A

Inequality: 60% of the population lives in squatter settlements. The majority part of the informal economy pays ~£1 per day.
Infrastructure has struggled to keep up with the pace of urbanisation.

32
Q

How has Nigeria developed over the last 25 years?

A

Life expectancy has increased by 7 years from an increased access to healthcare
The expected years of schooling has increased to 9 years
GNI per capita has doubled to ~US$5,500

33
Q

Why has Lagos’ location enabled industry to develop?

A

There is a large seaport for trade

Oil is present near Lagos

34
Q

In what ways does Lagos contribute to Nigeria’s economy?

A

Lagos holds around 10% of Nigeria’s population but contributes about 30% of GDP. Most of Nigeria’s manufacturing industry is found there, as well as a growing service industry: finance, fashion and film (Nollywood).

35
Q

What is the Eko Atlantic development?

A

A new island being built on the coast of Lagos. It currently employs low skilled construction workers but when complete will house luxury high rise flats and high skilled, high paying jobs, attracting large companies. It will house 250,000 and employ 150,000. It is a joint scheme with the city government and international private investors.

36
Q

How does Lagos’ employment structure compare to the rest of Nigeria?

A

30% of Nigerians work in the primary sector, 15% in the secondary, and 55% in the tertiary sector
In Lagos 5% work in the primary sector, 20% in the secondary, and 80% in the tertiary sector

37
Q

What percentage of Lagos’ workforce works in the informal economy? What percentage of new jobs are created in this sector?

A

40% and 90%

38
Q

What are the benefits of Lagos’ informal economy?

A

It allows low skilled workers to work and earn money, potentially allowing them to send their children to school. (However, many children also work in the informal economy)

39
Q

What is the Olusosen rubbish dump?

A

A large rubbish dump in Lagos. Around 500 people work there in the informal economy, sorting tonnes of waste by hand, and picking out valuable items to sell. Some workers live at the dump.

40
Q

What are the benefits of working at the Olusosen rubbish dump?

A

There are shops, bars, restaurants, cinemas, and a mosque
There is a plan to incinerate waste to produce enough electricity to power a town
Without the dump, a lot of reusable items would go to waste
People in Lagos can save money by buying recycled goods

41
Q

What are the costs of working at the Olusosen rubbish dump?

A

Natural gases build up under the waste, often leading to fires
Electric waste is treated with chemicals to extract reusable materials, releasing toxic fumes
Only 13% of waste is recycled

42
Q

What is a squatter settlement?

A

An area of poor quality housing lacking amenities, which often develop spontaneously and illegally

43
Q

What is development?

A

The progress of a country in terms of economic growth, the use of technology and human welfare

44
Q

What is an urban area?

A

A built up area such as a town or city

45
Q

How is Lagos attempting to provide clean water to its residents?

A

The Lagos State Water Regulatory Commission was set up to regulate water supply and vendors and issue borehole licences

46
Q

What is Makoko?

A

A squatter settlement for in Lagos Lagoon housing roughly 250,000 people. People live in makeshift shelters. There are no basic facilities or good sanitation.

47
Q

What are the problems faced by Makoko residents?

A

Location - it is difficult to get into Lagos from the water. There is the possibility of waterborne diseases
Building construction - buildings are built on stilts from poor quality materials, presenting the risk of collapse
Housing density - disease risk

48
Q

What are statistics on quality of life in Lagos’ squatter settlements?

A

11% of squatter houses have piped water
10% have a septic tank
10% have a kitchen
75% of households live in one room

49
Q

Why does Lagos have water supply issues?

A

Drinking water from boreholes and groundwater contains bacterial and chemical pollution as there is no proper sewage system and poor sanitation. Lagoon water is salty and polluted by sewage. Water treatment plants only supply piped water to 10% of homes.

50
Q

How does traffic congestion affect people in Lagos?

A

The average Lagos resident spends over 3 hours a day in traffic
The fatal accident rate is 3 times the rate in European cities
Traffic causes air pollution and means people are late to work and school

51
Q

How has Lagos tried to reduce its traffic congestion problem?

A

The Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA) was set up. It set up a bus rapid transit system with a separate bus lane, used by 200,000 people every day. Minibus taxis called ‘danfos’ are used, although often overcrowded.

52
Q

What is the Strategic Transport Master Plan?

A

A scheme in Lagos involving lots of schemes. A light railway opened in 2016, with plans for more, known as Lagos Rail Mass Transport (LRMT). There are plans for an integrated transport scheme, linking together road, rail, and waterway networks.

53
Q

How is climate change affecting Lagos and Nigeria?

A

Flooding caused by more intense rainstorms and rising sea levels and exacerbated by a poor draining system, with lots of surface runoff
Desertification driving rural-urban migration to Lagos
Lowering of the water table from higher temperatures causing evaporation could cause water shortages

54
Q

What are challenges facing Rio de Janeiro’s urban poor?

A

Housing: ~500,000 homeless street dwellers with over 1m living in over 600 favelas
Crime: favelas are linked with organised crime, violence, and drugs
Traffic: mountains hem the city is so traffic haze rises to the level of favelas, which are hard to reach by road
Risk of mudslides

55
Q

What were the aims of the Favela-Bairro Project?

A

To integrate existing favelas into the fabric of the city by upgrading infrastructure and services
To get local community members and the government to work together to improve favelas

56
Q

What is a site and service scheme?

A

Where people pay a small amount of rent for a site to the local authority and borrow money for building materials. They improve their homes and the rent money is used for local services. Basic amenities e.g. water and sewage are provided.

57
Q

What is a self help scheme?

A

Where the government supplies building material or access to credit to buy materials for the people in the squatter settlements to enable local people to improve their homes. This saves the government money on labour, so services such as electricity and water can be provided.

58
Q

What are the social improvements of the Favela Bairro project?

A

Widening and paving roads to allow for better access
Replacing structures with brick buildings with foundations
New health, leisure and education facilities
Cable car systems for better access

59
Q

What are the economic and environmental improvements of the Favela Bairro project?

A

Training schemes to help residents develop skills to improve their homes
Increased access to the city allows residents to find better jobs
Clearing rubbish, planting open areas and improving paved surfaces
Rubbish collection services began

60
Q

What are the overall benefits of the Favela Bairro project?

A

People’s quality of life has improved, with better overall living conditions
People live in better, safer homes with access to improved services to deal with drug and alcohol problems
Recognised as an ‘urban planning model’ by the UN and used in other Brazilian cities

61
Q

What are the problems with the Favela Bairro scheme?

A

Less than a quarter of the urban poor were involved with the scheme
The budged swelled to US$1bn, mostly financed by loans from the Inter-American Development Bank
Newly built infrastructure is not being maintained
Rents rose in the improved favelas, driving the poorest out
Residents could not get microcredit loans from the IDB
The training for employment scheme was not very successful as most people were also illiterate