Mexico City Case Study

Question 1

What is Mexico City’s significance in transportation?

Answer 1

Central hub for railways and roads linking North and South America

Question 2

What was Mexico City’s GDP in 2011?

Answer 2

$411 billion

Question 3

What does the Central Business District (CBD) of Mexico City house?

Answer 3

Banks, insurance, government offices, private company headquarters

Question 4

What characterizes the Inner City of Mexico City?

Answer 4

Middle-class zones of aging apartment blocks and high-quality modern apartments

Question 5

What are the areas beyond the Inner City known for?

Answer 5

Industrial areas, gated luxury communities, older tenements, squatter settlements

Question 6

What is the Urban-Rural Fringe of Mexico City known for?

Answer 6

Slums and shanty towns known as ‘periférico’

Question 7

What does the Land Use Model in Mexico City include?

Answer 7

Market area, spine with elite housing and shopping centers, disamenity zones, peripheral zones of squatter settlements

Question 8

What drives rural-to-urban migration in Mexico City?

Answer 8

Better job opportunities, housing, education, and healthcare

Question 9

What is a significant cause of national migration to Mexico City?

Answer 9

Poor regions with low literacy, inadequate housing, and lack of clean water

Question 10

What attracts international migrants to Mexico City?

Answer 10

Job opportunities, cultural life, and the dominating service sector

Question 11

What is the impact of migration on housing in Mexico City?

Answer 11

High-pressure on housing leads to the expansion of shanty settlements

Question 12

What contributes to increasing inequality in Mexico City?

Answer 12

Informal economy, competition for limited jobs, and lower wages

Question 13

What is the consequence of uneven distribution of services in Mexico City?

Answer 13

Drastic differences in diet, health, and living standards

Question 14

What issues do poor migrants face regarding housing?

Answer 14

Live in slums lacking toilets, running water, and stable roofs

Question 15

What percentage of homes in wealthy areas have access to piped water?

Answer 15

98%

Question 16

What is the infant mortality rate like in poorer areas of Mexico City?

Answer 16

Higher due to limited access to essential services

Question 17

What contributes to air pollution in Mexico City?

Answer 17

Industrial operations emitting greenhouse gases

Question 18

What is the purpose of the Metrobus system in Mexico City?

Answer 18

Reduce air pollution and transport costs

Question 19

What is Plan Verde?

Answer 19

A 15-year plan to develop alternative energy programs and reduce air pollution

Question 20

What initiative encourages recycling in Mexico City?

Answer 20

Farmer’s markets where families can exchange recyclable waste for green vouchers

Question 21

What was the approximate population of Mexico City in the 1950s?

Answer 21

Approximately 2 million

Question 22

What was the population of Mexico City by 2010?

Answer 22

Approximately 19 million

Question 23

What was the annual growth rate of Mexico City during the 1950s?

Answer 23

5.5 percent

Question 24

What was the annual growth rate of Mexico City by the year 2000?

Answer 24

0.8 percent

Question 25

What is the most populated metropolitan area in the Western Hemisphere?

Answer 25

Greater Mexico City

Question 26

What factor contributed to rapid population growth in Mexico City during the 1950s?

Answer 26

Natural increase due to high birth rate and fall in death rate

Question 27

What type of migration primarily contributes to the population growth in Mexico City?

Answer 27

National migration from rural areas

Question 28

What are some reasons people migrate to Mexico City from rural areas?

Answer 28

* Alternative jobs to farming * Better housing * Clean water * Improved health care

Question 29

What has the need for homes in Mexico City led to?

Answer 29

More self-built housing at the city edge and larger shanty towns

Question 30

What is the impact of migration on the use of open space in Mexico City?

Answer 30

Greater use of open space due to higher population

Question 31

What is national migration?

Answer 31

Movement of people within a country

Question 32

What is international migration?

Answer 32

Movement of people to a different country

Question 33

Explain one cause of population growth for a city in a developing or emerging country.

Answer 33

Rural-urban migration caused by lack of job opportunities and poor housing in the countryside

Question 34

What demographic trend is observed among many migrants moving to Mexico City?

Answer 34

Many migrants are young adults

Question 35

What social issue has risen due to the lack of jobs for migrants in Mexico City?

Answer 35

Increased rates of crime

Question 36

What environmental issues are exacerbated by the rise in car ownership in Mexico City?

Answer 36

* Air pollution * Noise pollution

Question 37

What is a consequence of fear of crime in Mexico City?

Answer 37

Segregation of people with wealthier living in gated communities

Question 38

What challenges does Mexico City face regarding clean water supply?

Answer 38

Difficulties in supplying clean water due to rising demand

Question 39

What has increased economic investment in Mexico City led to?

Answer 39

Increased job opportunities through investment in construction of factories and offices

Question 40

What is a significant consequence of rapid urban growth in developing countries?

Answer 40

Increasing inequalities ## Footnote This includes disparities between rich and poor populations.

Question 41

What are the two extremes of wealth distribution in rapidly urbanizing cities?

Answer 41

Extreme wealth and extreme poverty ## Footnote This results in stark contrasts in living conditions.

Question 42

What is the minimum wage in Mexico City and how does it compare to actual wages?

Answer 42

Minimum wage should be US$4 per day, but about 1 in 3 workers are paid less ## Footnote This highlights wage disparities in the city.

Question 43

How much more do the top 20 percent earn compared to the bottom 20 percent in Mexico City?

Answer 43

Top 20 percent earn as much as 13 times more than the bottom 20 percent ## Footnote This illustrates extreme income inequality.

Question 44

What is the average school attendance for the poorest 10 percent in Mexico City?

Answer 44

Average only two years of school attendance ## Footnote This contrasts sharply with the richest 10 percent, who average 12 years.

Question 45

What services are lacking in shanty towns compared to wealthier areas in Mexico City?

Answer 45

No running water, electricity, or food shops ## Footnote Wealthier residents have access to large houses with gardens and swimming pools.

Question 46

What is one major environmental impact of rapid urbanization in Mexico City?

Answer 46

Pollution ## Footnote High levels of air pollution are caused by the large number of cars.

Question 47

What health issues arise due to waste management problems in Mexico City?

Answer 47

Spread of diseases like cholera and typhoid ## Footnote This occurs from sewage leaking into the water supply.

Question 48

What is a housing issue faced by migrants in Mexico City?

Answer 48

Housing shortages ## Footnote Many migrants live on garbage dumps or in squatter settlements.

Question 49

What are squatter settlements?

Answer 49

Illegally built homes made out of waste materials ## Footnote These settlements often lack basic services.

Question 50

What is the issue of under-employment in rapidly urbanizing areas?

Answer 50

People work seven days a week doing more than one type of job ## Footnote This reflects economic instability and lack of opportunities.

Question 51

What is a significant waste management challenge in Mexico City?

Answer 51

Struggles to dispose of 13,000 tonnes of rubbish generated daily ## Footnote Waste is often dumped on the streets.

Question 52

True or False: Mexico City has low levels of air pollution due to its mountainous surroundings.

Answer 52

False ## Footnote The mountains trap pollutants, increasing air pollution.

Question 53

What are top-down projects?

Answer 53

Large-scale projects usually funded and managed by city governments.

Question 54

What are bottom-up projects?

Answer 54

Small-scale projects often funded by NGOs or community organisations.

Question 55

What is Cultiva Ciudad?

Answer 55

A project working with local schools to educate children about managing a garden.

Question 56

What initiative has been taken by residents regarding rooftop gardens?

Answer 56

Residents are growing healthy foods on rooftop gardens.

Question 57

What community effort is taking place on the outskirts of Mexico City?

Answer 57

Locals are raising money to help build schools and health centres.

Question 58

What is the Metrobus system?

Answer 58

A sustainable transport scheme introduced by Mexico City's government in 2005.

Question 59

How much CO2 emissions is the Metrobus estimated to reduce annually?

Answer 59

35,000 tonnes.

Question 60

How many people does the Metrobus transport daily?

Answer 60

Approximately 250,000 people.

Question 61

By how much has the Metrobus reduced average journey times?

Answer 61

By 30 minutes, from 1.5 hours to 1 hour.

Question 62

What is the cost of the homes designed by Tatiana Bilbao?

Answer 62

US$8,000.

Question 63

How much solid waste does Mexico City produce daily?

Answer 63

An estimated 13,000 tonnes.

Question 64

What is the purpose of the 'barter market' established in Mexico City?

Answer 64

Residents exchange waste for vouchers to be traded for food.