CUE 3233 Flashcards
(36 cards)
Define economic inequality.
The difference between levels of living standards, income etc across the whole economic distribution.
Example of economic inequality?
In Mumbai, the most expensive home (Antilla) towers over Byculla - one of the largest slum areas of the city.
Define social segregation.
When groups of people live apart from the larger population due to factors such as wealth, ethnicity, religion or age.
What are the 3 reasons for social segregation?
- housing
- changing environments
- the ethnic dimension
Explain ‘housing’ as a reason for social segregation.
Developers, builders and planners tend to build housing on plots of land with a particular market in mind.
The requirements to include a proportion of ‘affordable housing’ may affect housing value in some areas. Wealthier groups can choose to pay more for houses well away from poor areas, with pleasing environments and services such as quality schools and parks.
Poorer groups typically have far less choice in where to live.
Explain ‘changing environments’ as a reason for social segregation.
Housing neighbourhoods change over time. Houses that were built for large families in Georgian and Victorian times are now too big for the average UK family. Many have been converted into flats for private rental to people on low incomes. Conversely, former poor areas are being gentrified, making them popular amongst wealthier groups.
The ‘right to buy’ legislation of the 1980s transformed many council estates, as houses were bought by their occupants and improved over time.
Explain ‘the ethnic dimension’ as a reason for social segregation.
Ethnic groups originally cams to the country as new immigrants (this could have been several generations ago or happening today).
When they first arrive they may suffer discrimination in the job market leading to unemployment, underemployment or employment in low-paid jobs.
Consequently, they can only afford cheap housing and therefore they cluster in poor areas. These ethnic groupings then tend to continue into later generations.
How could you measure the quality of life in an area using primary data?
Use primary data eg quality, density, condition of housing and the nature of the physical and social environment.
How could you measure the quality of life in an area using secondary data?
Use secondary data to find out the poverty in terms of low income, or shown by poor health or the lack of possessions eg cars.
It’s common for the poorest parts of the UK to suffer from __________ _____________
Multiple deprivation.
This is a combination of social, environmental and economic deprivation.
What is the index of multiple deprivation?
A UK government qualitative study measuring deprivation at small-area level across England.
The Indices of Deprivation 2015 are based on 37 separate indicators, organised across seven distinct domains of deprivation, using appropriate weights, to calculate the Index of Multiple Deprivation 2015.
What are the 7 domains of deprivation from the Index of Multiple Deprivation 2015?
- income
- employment
- crime
- housing & barriers to services
- living environment
- health and disability
What were the key findings from the IMD 2015?
- The vast majority of the most deprived areas in England were in cities, specifically in areas that have historically had large heavy industry, manufacturing and mining sectors, coastal towns and large parts of East London.
- The 20 most deprived local authorities in 2015 were largely the same as found for the 2010 Index.
However the London Borough of Hackney has become relatively less deprived and no longer features in this list. Gentrification is largely responsible for this.
In a city, inequality (caused by urban social exclusion) can cause…
A lack of social cohesion and in extreme cases, civil unrest.
Is there a pattern to urban equality?
There is no clear geographical pattern to urban poverty today. It clearlyq exists but the image of a troubled inner core surrounded by affluent suburbs is out-dated.
Some of the highest levels of urban poverty are now found in peripheral estates while many inner city areas have been transformed by regeneration.
Rich and poor areas today are found across city and suburb alike.
Inequality remains a challenge. Explain how, in low income countries.
Adequate water and sanitation services are primarily channeled to wealthier neighbourhoods, while low income neighbourhoods rely on distant and unsafe water wells and lack any form of waste disposal.
The poor also live in over crowded, informal housing, lacking basic infrastructure and services. The knock on effects of this are poor health, higher unemployment and a lack of social mobility.
The poor get stuck in a cycle which is difficult to escape.
What’s the difference between poverty and inequality?
Poverty is an absolute term, referring to a level of deprivation that does not change over time.
Inequality is a relative term referring to the differences between people, usually economic, over a geographic distribution.
Name the strategies to tackle urban poverty and inequality.
- provision of schools
- enforcing a living wage / providing urban subsidy
- greater public transport
- supporting lower skilled workers who want to develop their abilities
- enforce minimum environmental standards
- fairness commissions
Explain ‘greater provision of public transport’ as a strategy of tackling urban poverty and inequality.
Affordable public transport schemes improve mobility for the city poor, enabling them access to employment, education and services that could improve their lives.
Example – the Rio de Janeiro sky-high transport system, which connects 6 hilltops and covers 3.5km, was installed in 2011 to service 13 favelas and provide access to the main part of the city. 12,000 people use this system every day!
Explain ‘fairness commissions’ as a strategy to tackle urban poverty and inequality.
A number of British cities eg Liverpool & Sheffield have established ‘Fairness Commissions’ – groups of people tasked with looking at how local areas can address inequality.
Define cultural diversity.
The existence of a variety of cultural or ethnic groups within a society.
What is the key influence of cultural diversity?
Immigration.
Example of cultural diversity?
London is considered one of the most culturally diverse cities in the world.
- more than 300 languages spoken
- 50 non-indigenous communities with populations of 10,000
In 2009, which was the least culturally diverse city?
Canterbury - 86% of its population was white.
