The Characteristics, Causes and Effects of Suburbanisation

Suburbanisation The movement of people from the city centre to lower density housing on the outskirts of a city. As urbanisation increases city centres become overcrowded and people want more space. Improvements to public transport mean people can live further away but still reach the city centre easily.

As megacities grow, more suburbs are added so older suburbs aren’t on the outskirts anymore. A complex pattern of wealth and poorer areas develops. Wealthy people live in suburbs on the outskirts of the city because they can afford larger houses with more space. Wealthy people also move into poorer suburbs closer to the centre and renovate the houses- this process is called gentrification

Suburbanisation- the term has 2 meanings: The outward growth of the suburbs as they eat their way into the countryside on the urban fringes. The range of changes that take place as people move into the outer suburbs, the market towns and the villages of the countryside around cities. These migrants change the countryside economically, socially, demographically and culturally.

Can you think of what these changes might be in a MEDC?

Changes to the countryside of suburbanisation: Ageing population through retirees settling in the countryside. Rising property values that cause problems for established local families on low incomes (especially young couples buying their first homes) Closure of services such as village school, shops and bus services, as they are less likely to be patronised by newcomers. Greater politicisation of green issues, as newcomers bring with them much more Nimbyist attitudes.

The Processes Associated with suburbanisation. Use the sorting cards to categorise the demographic, economic, technological, social and cultural changes associated with suburbanisation.

Demographic Changes Ageing population Rural depopulation Suburbanisation and second homes

Economic Changes Primary sector changes- decline of traditional farming. Increase in hobby farming. More non-agricultural land use. Tertiary sector changes- increased influence of tourism and a decline in the number of services.

Technological Changes Increased accessibility More work carried out at home

Social Changes More professional middle classes Fewer farm workers More retired people Therefore rural gentrification and so a rise in rural house prices.

Cultural Changes Media changing of people’s perceptions, therefore decline of rural traditions. Introduction of more middle class culture, therefore more environmental lobbying.

Can you think of some MEDC case study examples where you see suburbanisation taking place?

Question Assess the effects of suburbanisation on cities within countries of different levels of economic development (10 marks).

Mark scheme Level 1: simple statements of effects which could apply to a wide range of suburbanisation. There is limited use of case study material and no overall assessment is given. (1-4 marks)

Level 2: Statements of effects that are sophisticated and/or linked to specific areas of study. Good use is made of exemplification to support the answer. Marks in the upper range should be awarded for clear references to suburbanisation within urban areas at different levels of economic development. Assessment is tentative and implicit. (5-8 marks)

Level 3: A fully developed answer, with good elaboration and clear detail of the effects of suburbanisation with the chosen urban areas. Statements of assessment are explicit. (9-10 marks) Note the key word is ‘assess’ therefore you must make some judgement of the effects of suburbanisation on the chosen areas referred to. You must refer to at least 2 different countries at different stages of economic development- good use of case study material is necessary. A wholly general or theoretical answer will have difficulty accessing the higher levels.