3.2.3.1 Urbanisation Flashcards
(30 cards)
What is urban growth?
Increase in the number of urban dwellers
What is urban sprawl?
spread of urban area to surrounding rural area
Centers of exchange?
Grouping people together leads to the exchange of ideas, this expands human knowledge, and is a leading driver of global economic productivity.
Example of centre of exchange?
The Wagon Wheel Bar – During the 1970’s and 1980’s engineers from different semiconductors companies would meet there to drink and talk about problems they faced in the manufacturing of semiconductors. Despite being fierce competitors they gathered and exchanged ideas. Companies were even started through people meeting at the Wagon Wheel, these include Intel and AMD. The Wagon Wheel Bar is credited as being one of the reasons for the success of Silicone Valley.
Centers of political influence?
Within each country, or state, one city will be given the designation of the ‘Capital’ city. This indicates that it is the city in which the government sits. This is where the political power and decision making of a country lies.
What is urban areas?
Increase in the percentage of people living in urban areas compared to rural areas.
Global nodes of economic activity?
Cities such as Shenzhen (China) manufacture goods sold worldwide, whilst London provides global financial services
What is urbanisation also a result of as?
1) Investment in the industrial sector has increased employment opputunities
2) Steady flow of migrant workers with low wages
3) This was maximising profits leading to growth in economy.
4)Decrease in agricultural work and into a more specified field.
Urban resurgence?
When people move back into the city centres through regeneration in an area of economic decline for a period
What is decentralisation?
When buisnesses move from CBD to suburbs
Initiatives inorder to combat urban resurgence:
1) Pedestrianisation: feel safer and good air quality
2)CBD Shopping centre with roofs covers on top to protect from rain
3)Investment in public realm therefore good furniture and pavement
4)Grants to take derelict buildings
5)Large scale clearance and rebuilding of areas – essentially starting again in the most deprived and derelict areas
Challenges of mega cities:
Slums:
Slum dwellers often have minimal or no access to education, healthcare, or the urban economy.
Crime:
A lack of proper and sufficient infrastructure and public services leads to the growth of slums, but also breeds discontent among urban dwellers, leading to high crime rates.
Homelessness
Megacities have a significant number of homeless people.
Traffic congestion
Cities like Mumbai and Kolkata are facing huge traffic. Traffic congestion leads to increased pollution, slow speed of vehicles, etc.
Air pollution
There are hazardous chemicals which are let out and are harmful to humans, other living organisms and are also damaging the natural environment. Smog is a typical form of air pollution which happens due to vehicle emissions and industrial fumes.
What is a world city:
A city considered to have an important node in economic activity globally
Based on their connectivity through accountancy, advertising, banking and law.
Examples of
Alpha ++
alpha+
alpha
alpha-
beta
gamma
1) London or New York
2) Hong Kong or Paris
3)Madrid
4)Zurich
5)Dubai
6)Chennai
What is spacial proximity:
Development of innovation due to close geographical locations
Characteristics of world cities:
World cities also have an important role to play in regional economies as well as in the global economy.
World cities can be seen as resource centres and learning centres. Cities will often grow as companies access the skills and knowledge of the population, and use this to develop new concepts and products.
By using the population as a resource, enterprises will start to flourish and other companies will be attracted to the city as a result.
This promotes the city as a learning centre, an area where new ideas are developed within universities and science parks.
In a world city, science parks and universities will encourage people to communicate and share ideas, sparking innovation
Features of Megacities:
Key Features of Megacities
Megacities prioritize economic competitiveness and employment.
The environment matters, but may be sacrificed for growth.
Transport overtakes all other infrastructure concerns.
Better governance is a vital step towards better cities.
Holistic solutions are desired but difficult to achieve.
Cities will seek to improve services, but could do more to manage demand. Technology will help deliver transparency and efficiency.
The private sector has a role to play in increasing efficiency.
Global economics for world cities
Politics
World cities influence international events such as G8/G7 summits. Politicians from world cities drive negotiations and develop economic links with other countries. For example the former London mayor Boris Johnson used his role to promote trade with China during the Beijing Olympics of 2008.
Cultural
World cities attract well-qualified workers from around the globe. This results in a diverse population which adds to the spatial proximity that already exists within the city.
Business and Trade
The flow of business and trade is immense. Few world cities produce their own manufactured goods but they will have the headquarters of transnational companies located in them and their decision will affect large parts of the world.
London and New York specialise in the financial sector, Tokyo dominates the trade sector and Singapore dominates container and shipping trade.
Transport
Infrastructure to allow connectivity is vital for the success of a world city. Just two examples; World air traffic flows internal to Europe and N America account for nearly half of world traffic, while only 1.3% is within Sub-Saharan Africa. Internet usage can also be considered. In the USA there are 63 internet users per 100 compared to 0.2 for Bangladesh.
All processes associated with urbanisation:
1) Economic
2) Cities ; have higher living standards then rural areas
3)Technological ; cottonpolis
4)Political; Inequalities between rich and poor
5)Demographic ; more culturally diverse
3 reasons why deinudstrisation happens:
1) Mechanisation
2)Competition from abroad
3)Reduced demand for certain products
Examples of some consequences of deindustrilisation: social
Increase family breakdown - drugs
Higher levels of crime
higher levels of deprivation
Loss of confidence and morale
Examples of some consequences of deindustrilisation: Economic
Loss of earnings
loss of jobs and disposable income
property prices fall
Examples of some consequences of deindustrilisation: Environmental
Long term pollution
loss of property maintenance
derelict land and buildings
less noise land and water pollution
What is decentralisation
This refers to the movement of businesses and offices away from the inner city to the edge of urban areas
