Urban Processes Flashcards
Why Is Urbanisation Happening - LICs?
LICs such as Niger have a low urban population - agrarian - focus on agriculture. Their crop yields are low however - don’t have enough to sell and go into other jobs - die of starvation - lack of education + skills - decrease in tertiary/secondary sector and so their urban pull is low in attracting businesses/people.
Why Is Urbanisation Happening - NEEs?
NEEs e.g. China - 1. Industrialisation - Shenzhen - manufacturing pays better - pull factor.
2. Taxation - urban areas - better infrastructure/attractiveness to businesses - increased inequality gap between rural areas.
3. Agriculture - mechanisation - increased crop yield - increased unemployment - push to urban areas.
Result - Mexico City population increased by 0.6% NYC decreased by 0.32% in a year excluding migration.
Why Is Urbanisation Happening - HICs?
Low rate of urbanisation but high urban population - UK - 84%.
- Urbanisation already happened in the past.
- Economic change - secondary to tertiary sector - “footloose” - online jobs - don’t need to be in UK - less pull factors to HICs cities now.
- Rural to urban inequality low - less pull/push factors.
Negative Consequences of Urbanisation In NEEs - Social
Urban growth happening too fast - gov lack time/money to cope - do not have capacity for housing/infrastructure like electricity + sewers - led to more rural movement to hills/outskirts such as Rocinha in Rio Dijinero - 1/5 of High Wycombe - population 100,000.
Gov does not provide amenities/services - less sanitation + more water born diseases like cholera affecting health. Gov do not want to legitimise area - affects hospitals + overcrowds them. Lack of education also leads to increased drop out rates - less income + more crime
Negative Consequences of Urbanisation In NEEs - Economic
Due to social problems - loss of productivity due to people who are rich enough to afford cars - heavily taken over bikes/walking led to loss of value - GDP decreased by 0.9% as a result of wasting time through traffic - affects staff absenteeism.
Employment - Poor health - 10 years lower life expectancy in slums. Lower skills so cannot acquire jobs in formal economies which have higher pay and provide contracts. Unemployment at 20% led to informal jobs like selling fruit at beach to tourists.
Negative Consequences of Urbanisation In NEEs - Environmental
Social + economic problems led to environmental problems. Air pollution due to cheaper inefficient vehicles led to less income, tax, investment into public transport + education - 1/5 of people over 65 dying from air pollution in Rio.
4% waste recycled - huge landfills - water released acids into soils contaminating water + organic decomposition of bananas for e.g. led to the release of methane - global env problems.
Sewers - only 55% treated - unhealthy water - 3 tablespoons can give diseases (Guanabara Bay).
Negative Consequences of Urbanisation In HICs - Social
Lack of integration - international vs internal - may not mix together - assimilation (mix with local population) - language culture - only communicate between themselves. For example Syrian vs Polish migrants. Syrian - different language spoken plus religion - Islam vs Christianity - lack of assimilation whilst Polish speak same language plus religion. 16% of people in Bristol were not born there.
Like NEEs - pressure on services such as healthcare - Southmead hospital - Bristol - not as severe however.
Negative Consequences of Urbanisation In HICs - Economic
Housing cost - Bristol doubled from 2010 -2020 - £150k to £300k - income rise does not keep up with house price - Harbourside Bristol.
Vertical development - less urban sprawl.
Inequality - FDI - 4th sector businesses into Bristol like Airbus led to inequality - affluent areas like Stoke Bishop and deprived areas like Filwood. Also due to high skilled migration - can’t afford housing.
Negative Consequences of Urbanisation In HICs - Environmental
Urban sprawl - as city expands - increased distance to travel - increased car use - pollution.
Urban sprawl impacted on ecosystems in Bristol like in Harry Stoke (suburb) led to affecting in endemic species like the great crested Newt - gov unable to mitigate urban sprawl through strategies like vertical integration.
What Is Counter Urbanisation?
Movement of people from within a city to beyond city limits.
Causes Of Counter Urbanisation?
Economic Change - de-industrialisation in Liverpool led to “urban decline” led to increased unemployment led to decreased QOL.
Urban Policy - e.g. green belt - 1950s - restricted outwards growth - affluent leaving to idyllic rural villages e.g. Formby Liverpool - QOL - beaches, golf clubs less deprivation + better services. Also provide excellent transport links - motorway + railway to Liverpool.
Positive Effects Of Counter Urbanisation
Gain QOL for people who move e.g. through life expectancy, education + average income.
Better services e.g. Formby has outstanding ratings by OFSTED - increased demand.
Negative Effects Of Counter Urbanisation
Economic - increase in house prices - 30% increase average semi detached 3 beds - £350k.
Conflict - land use agriculture vs housing e.g. Farm Show in Formby - insider vs outsider.
Less services - less demand - retail - Formby High Street - affluent use services in city (Liverpool).
How Has Urban Policy Changed In The UK?
1979-1991 - urban policy - effort by gov on a national or local scale to improve QOL + economy within city. Took a neoliberal approach with the goal to attract investment. Thought this would lead to multiplier effect.
What Is The Urban Development Corporation (UDC)?
This is where Quangos were developed - semi owned by gov, autonomous + funded and given authority to buy land + invest.
