urbanisation in LIDCs

rural urban migration

movement of people from the countryside to the cities

what is the rate of rural urban migration in LIDCs affected by

push factors (encourage people to leave an area) pull factors (encourage people to move to an area)

push factors:

• natural disasters - floods + earthquakes - damage property - people cannot afford to repair

• mechanisation of agricultural equipment - farms require fewer workers - fewer jobs

• drought - land unproductive - people cannot support themselves

• conflict or war - flee homes

pull factors

• more jobs - better paid

• access to better health care + education

• join other family members who have already moved

• people think they will have a better quality of life

what is urbanisation caused by

• internal growth (birth rate is higher than death rate)

  • birth rate is higher in cities - young people move to urban areas to find work - people have children in cities - increasing the urban population

• better healthcare in LIDCs is in the city rather than rural areas

  • people living in urban areas live longer, reducing death rates and increasing the proportion of people in urban areas

economic issues for rapid urbanisation

• may not be enough jobs for everyone - high levels of unemployment

• many work in the informal sector where the jobs aren’t taxed or regulated by the government - people work long hours in dangerous conditions for little pay

• people may not have access to education - unable to develop skills needed to get better jobs

social issues for rapid urbanisation

• aren’t enough homes for everyone - many people end up in squatter settlements that are badly built and overcrowded

• infrastructure cannot be built fast enough = people don’t have access to basic services - clean water, proper sewers, high electricity = poor health

• high levels of crime

environmental issues for rapid urbanisation

if cities grow rapidly waste disposal services and environmental regulations cannot keep pace with the growth

• rubbish often isn’t collected - it may end up in big rubbish heaps - could be toxic

• sewage and toxic chemicals can get into rivers - harms wildlife

• road system may not be able to cope with all vehicles - congestion causes increased greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution