Unit 5: Urban Futures

urbanisation is

urbanisation is

the increase in the proportion of a country's population living in towns and cities

in ACs, urbanisation has

happened earlier due to the Industrial Revolution now rates have slowed, and even reversed

in LIDCs and EDCs, urbanisation is

rapidy happening

a megacity is

a city with more than 10 million people

a world city

centers of economic, culture, and political activity that are strongly interconnected and together control the global systems of finance and commerce

examples of world cities

London, Tokyo, New York most are in ACs

urban sprawl is

the process of urban areas rapidly expanding outwards

a green belt is

an area of open land around a city, on which building is restricted

characteristics of slums

often built on steep hillsides buildings made of flammable materials poor building quality high population density

hazards of slums

buildings destroyed by landslides fire spreads easily slums collapse in earthquakes rapid disease spread

commuter settlements are where

people work in rural areas but continue to work in the city people spend most of their time away at work so shops often close

rural-urban migration

the movement of people from the countryside to the city

push factors for rural-urban migration

natural disasters poor farming equipment drought conflict less jobs

pull factors for rural-urban migration

more jobs with higher wages better healthcare better education better quality of life

internal growth occurs when

the birth rate is higher than the death rate

birth rates are higher in cities because

young people move to cities for work better healthcare in cities

economic consequences of rural-urban migration

not enough jobs in cities lead to unemployment people have to work in the informal sector this is not taxed, has little pay and harsh conditions lack of education leads to lack of skills for jobs

social consequences of rural-urban migration

lack of housing leads to squatter settlements lack of basic services (clean water and sewage) poor health high levels of crime

environmental consequences of rural-urban migration

poor waste disposal and sewage systems rubbish ends up in landfills sewage and chemicals enter rivers and harm wildlife congestion leads to increased greenhouse gases

suburbanisation

movement of people from city centres to the outskirts

push factors for suburbanisation

urban areas are overpopulated too much pollution high unemployment rates

pull factors for suburbanisation

more green spaces better housing people can commute to work rent is cheaper

economic consequences of suburbanisation

less people in inner city business struggle for customers and close down leads to unemployment

social consequences of suburbanisation

city centre becomes abandonded and derelict economic and ethnic segregation foreign immigrants are poorer and cannot afford better housing

environmental consequences of suburbanisation

new housing in countryside affects habitats increased use of cars to commute results in more air pollution

counter-urbanisation

the movement of people from urban areas to rural areas

push factors for counter-urbanisation

congestion and parking problems in urban areas housing is expensive

pull factors for counter-urbanisation

bigger houses more outdoor space improved communication services allow people to work from home cheaper for businesses to work in rural areas

economic consequences of counter-urbanisation

rural areas have an increase in business newer residents are usually retired people or professionals with higher incomes farmers can sell unwanted land for housing more demand for housing so prices increase

social consequences of counter-urbanisation

younger people are unable to buy houses population is dominated by older people schools end up closing rural roads and infrastructure cannot cope with traffic may lead to commuter settlements

environmental consequences of counter-urbanisation

new housing affects wildlife most people in rural areas travel by car leading to congestion and air pollution

re-urbanisation

the movement of people back into urban areas

push factors of re-urbanisation

lack of jobs in rural areas less lesiure or entertainment house prices too high

pull factors of re-urbanisation

more universities in urban areas can live closer to work developments in quality of life businesses returning encourage others to return

economic consequences of re-urbanisation

new shops and services open, boosting the economy tourism increases in the city centre original residents may have been unskilled so work now increases

social consequences of re-urbanisation

less unemployment leads to less crime more students in state schools house prices increases so original residents move out possible tension between original and new residents shops may replace the shops for the original residents

environmental consequences of re-urbanisation

redevelopment of brownfield sites improves old industrial and polluted areas decreases pressures on greenfield areas could destroy urban wildlife