Eduqas B GCSE Geography: Changing Places, Changing Economies

Define a city, megacity, and global city.

• City: A large urban settlement

• Megacity: A city which has a population of over 10 million

• Global city: One which is well connected by the process of globalisation.

Describe and explain the distribution of megacities and how this has changed over time.

• The number of megacities has increased over time- in 1950, there were only two, and today there are at least 33

• Most of these are in LIDCs and emerging and developing countries in Asia, Africa and Latin America

What are the two main causes of urban growth?

• Natural increase- the birth rate surpassing the death rate

• Rural-urban migration- people moving out of rural areas into urban areas

Which three categories can countries be classified as?

• (LIC) Low Income Country e.g. Bangladesh

• (HIC) High Income Country e.g. Germany

• (NIC) Newly Industrialised Country eg India

What are some push factors (from rural areas)?

• Wars and civil strikes

• Agricultural problems

• Poor social provisions- healthcare, education, culture

• Poor employment prospects

What are some pull factors (from urban areas)?

• Better social provisions- healthcare, education, culture

• Better employment prospects

• Better quality of life

How are rural areas positively impacted by rural-urban migration?

• More land per person

• More resources per person

• Money may be sent home by migrants

How are rural areas negatively impacted by rural-urban migration?

• Birth rate will decrease and death rate increase

• Fewer economically active people in the community

• Families are split up

How are urban areas positively impacted by rural-urban migration?

• Increased economic activity

• Increase in cultural wealth

• More knowledge and skills in the community

How are urban areas negatively impacted by rural-urban migration?

• Pressure on housing availability

• Tensions between existing community and immigrants

• Pressure on social provisions such as healthcare and education

Why is Mumbai significant?

• One of the world’s most important financial centres

• Home of Bollywood- a film industry whose films are known worldwide

• A trade link between India and Europe

How has Mumbai grown?

1. Rural-urban migration- the mechanisation of farming has reduced the number of jobs available in rural areas but the industrialisation of Mumbai, creating more jobs, has meant that over 1000 migrants arrive in Mumbai daily

2. Natural increase- many migrants are of fertile age, it is common to have a large family in India; the birth rate is 20.1 per 1000

3. Education- there are more opportunities in Mumbai than in other areas of India. Many students move for education and do not come home.

How has Mumbai’s growth created opportunities?

• Education- Mumbai is home to a world-renowned university and lots of primaries and secondaries. The literacy rate is 89.7%

• Healthcare- Mumbai has more hospitals than any other Indian city, and is very affordable and so is accessible to local people

• Economy- Mumbai accounts for 6% of India’s GDP and 40% of its foreign trade

How has Mumbai’s growth created challenges?

• Poor Housing: It is estimated that 72% of Mumbai’s population is living in slums- overcrowded, unsanitary living spaces

• Air Pollution: there are over 22 million vehicles registered in Mumbai and so there are lots of nitrous oxides and particulates- causing respiratory illnesses

• Poor transport services: Roads are often in bad condition and trains are overcrowded- in 2016, an average of 8 people a day died on the trains

What is life in Dharavi like?

• Strong sense of community

• Many business opportunities

• Low rent

• Access to social provisions such as education

How does recycling in Dharavi work?

• 8,000 tonnes of waste is generated in the city each day

• 80% of Mumbai’s waste is recycled- 4x the average rate of the UK

• Some litter is repurposed as building material to house Dharavi’s inhabitants and some is sold to to scrap dealers

What are the economic positives to Vision Mumbai?

• Redevelopment will attract developers and businesses

• Fewer infections mean more people are economically active

• More taxes can be collected for economic investment for the city

What are the environmental positives to Vision Mumbai?

• People no longer have to live among waste- more toilets are built as well as a sewage network

• Natural environment is less contaminated by human waste and industry pollutants

• Encouraged movement out of the city will reduce congestion and air pollution

What are the social benefits to Vision Mumbai?

• Less crowded and more affordable housing is provided to residents of Mumbai

• Better quality of life due to better sanitation and access to clean water

• Less illness and death

Why is London significant?

• London has global reach through its major airports Heathrow and Gatwick

• It is of major economic importance due to the City of London and the Stock Exchange.

• Located on the River Thames which has helped its trade links

How has London grown?

1. Rural-urban migration- in the 1800s, many farmers flocked to London to escape their farming lifestyle and find industrial jobs

2. Natural increase- post-WW2, there was a massive baby boom

3. EU Migration- lots of Eastern European countries joined the EU in 2004, and can therefore move to other EU countries whenever they wish

How has London’s growth provided opportunities?

• Education- London has lots of excellent schools- both public and private- that exceed national averages

• Culture- London is home to the West End theatre and many major stadiums for music and sports

• Diversity- there is a range of backgrounds represented in London- each with their own foods and cultures

How has London’s growth created challenges?

• Crime- knife and gun crime has increased massively

• Housing- the quality of council housing has decreased and it is more difficult to find a house let alone afford one

• Employment- there is lots of competition due to a large population which means lots of informal and illegal jobs are available and there are many homeless people

What solutions are there to improve urban sustainability in London?

• Water conservation - dual flush toilets in businesses and homes, collecting rainwater for gardens and the use of water meters in properties

• Energy conservation- insulating businesses and homes, use of double and triple glazing in buildings, use of low-energy lighting and appliances

• Waste recycling- recycling of household and commercial waste, adopting a 'reduce, reuse, recycle' policy, using 'grey' water to flush toilets in public buildings

• Creating green spaces- increasing the number of parks and planting more trees

What sustainable transport schemes are in place?

• Bike sharing scheme- 'Boris Bikes' have encouraged many people to cycle, reducing traffic congestion.

• London Underground- encouraged more people to use public transport.

• Oyster Card- allows people to use buses, trains and tubes quickly and efficiently, making it more appealing

• Congestion Charging Zone - this has discouraged people from driving their own vehicles in central London.

What are the environmental positives of BedZed?

• Low energy lighting and appliances

• Solar panels

• Rain water is collected to flush toilets

• Triple glazed windows provide insulation

• Wind cowls ventilate buildings

What are the economic positives of BedZed?

• Less electricity needs to be used in heat insulation

• Less electricity needs to be used in ventilation

• Encouraged use of public transport or bikes are cheaper

What are the social positives of BedZed?

• Lots of communal spaces- parks, carsharing etc

• Encouraged public transport requires social interaction

• Mix of housing so there are affordable options- 25% is social, 25% rental and 50% private

What are four urban trends seen in advanced cities/countries?

• Suburbanisation- when suburban areas grow outwards as new houses and services are built

• Counterurbanisation- when people move from urban areas to rural areas

• Reurbanisation- when people move back into previously declined urban areas that have been improved

• Infill: the construction of new buildings in underutilized or vacant land lots within urban areas

What are the four main reasons for counter-urbanisation?

1. Increase in counter-ownership

2. Urban areas becoming increasingly unpleasant areas to live

3. People of retirement age moving out of cities

4. People do not have to travel into the city centre for work and so choose to live on the outskirts of cities

What is the cycle of rural decline?

• People leave rural areas for more opportunities in cities

• Employers find it difficult to recruit labour

• Less investment is given to the area and businesses are forced to shut down

• Shops and services decline

• People notice the decline and lower quality of life

What conflicts arise from rural change?

• People who migrate to rural areas pay high prices for houses which results in young villagers being unable to afford a house in their village and must move away.

• The newcomers may do their shopping in a large retail park on the edge of the city where they work. The result is that fewer people buy from the local village shop which might have to close. Village pubs close and are converted into expensive homes. Increase in internet banking has badly affected small rural branches.