Urban Futures Flashcards
(33 cards)
What is Urbanisation?
The process by which an increasing percentage or proportion of a country’s population lives in towns and cities.
What is a Megacity?
An urban area with a total population in excess of 10 million.
What are the 4 factors that can lead to cities becoming megacities? Name some examples of Megacities.
1) Natural Population Increase
2) Migration (rural-urban + international)
3) Coastal Locations
4) Economic Development
Examples:
- Shanghai
- Beijing
- New Delhi
- Lagos
- Istanbul
- Tokyo
- Cairo
- Moscow
- São Paulo
- Mexico City
What is a World City?
A city of global importance within the world’s economy.
What are some features of World Cities? Name some examples of these Cities.
• Centres of International Trade
• Centres of Global Communication/Finance
• HQs of Trans-National Companies
Examples:
- Shanghai
- Tokyo
- London
- New Delhi
- São Paulo
- New York
- Barcelona
- Dubai
- Mexico City
- Seoul
- Paris
- Singapore
- Amsterdam
- Istanbul
What is an Alpha++ City?
A leading city of Trade, Finance + Influence (only London + New York City)
What is an Alpha+ City?
An important city connecting Global Trade.
Examples:
- Chicago
- Dubai
- Hong Kong
- Paris
- Shanghai
- Singapore
- Sydney
- Tokyo
Define Rural-Urban Migration
The movement of people from the countryside to cities.
What are some push factors that encourage people to move away from the Countryside?
• Few job opportunities
• Civil war + conflicts
• Lack of access to healthcare + education
• Natural Disasters
• Climate Change
• Poor transport networks
What are some Pull Factors that encourage people to move to urban areas?
• More job opportunities
• Access to healthcare + education
• Plentiful Food + services
• Simple transport connections
• More housing
• More potential income
• Protection + safety
• Religious pilgrimage
Define Internal Growth
Growth of a population as a result of a higher live birth rate than death rate.
What are the causes of high internal growth in LIDCs?
• High birth rates (lack of contraception, education, tradition, need for child labour on farms etc.)
• Lowering death rates (influence of charities, better sanitation, aid workers and improved healthcare etc.)
What are the consequences of rapid growth in LIDCs?
• Construction of unplanned housing (Squatter settlements)
• Dealing with Urban waste
• Air, noise and water pollution
• Stress on infrastructure
What are the problems associated with Shanty Towns?
• Overcrowding (high population density)
• Overpopulation (lack of resources)
• Disease (poor sanitation + healthcare)
• Lack of Infrastructure
• Competition for Jobs
• Vulnerability to Fires
Define Suburbanisation
The movement of people from outside the city centre to residential areas on the edge of a city.
What are the push and pull factors that cause Suburbanisation?
Push:
• Overcrowding + pollution
• Increasing unemployment
• Traffic congestion
Pull:
• Cheaper rent on outskirts
• Green spaces and family friendly
• New modern housing estates
What are the Environmental consequences of Suburbanisation?
• New housing damages countryside + habitats
• Increase of cars adds air pollution
What are the Economic consequences of Suburbanisation?
• People leave city centres = deserted spaces
• Unemployment increases
What are the Social consequences of Suburbanisation?
• Offices and businesses are abandoned
• Economic and ethnic segregation
Define Counter-urbanisation
The movement of people from cities to the countryside
What are some causes of Counter- urbanisation?
• Competition for jobs in urban areas
• High population density in urban areas (overcrowding)
• Pollution in urban areas
What are some consequences of Counter-urbanisation?
• Growth of commuter villages/towns
• Deindustrialisation of city centre
• Lowering demand for jobs + housing in city centre
• Strain on rural infrastructure
Define Re-urbanisation
People returning to cities after having emigrated out of them before.
What are some push and pull factors associated with Re-urbanisation?
Push:
- Lack of jobs in rural + suburban areas
- Less leisure and entertainment in rural areas
- Counter-urbanisation increasing housing prices
Pull:
- Redevelopment of brownfield sites with improved housing
- Young people attracted to universities
- People attracted to available entertainment facilities
