Urbanisation Causes of UrbanisationCauses of Urbanisation Process of UrbanisationProcess of Urbanisation Consequences of UrbanisationConsequences of Urbanisation

Urbanisation “The invasion from the countryside…is overwhelming the ability of city planners and governments to provide affordable land, water, sanitation, transport, building materials and food for the urban poor. Cities such as Bangkok, Bogota, Bombay, Cairo, Delhi, Lagos and Manila each have over one million people living in illegally developed squatter settlements or shanty towns.” L. Timberlake, Only One Earth, 1987

Urbanisation is the increase in the proportion of people living in towns and cities

What causes Urbanisation? ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY seems (and generally is) higher in the urban area than in the rural area.There are a wider range of opportunities for making a living. If regular,taxed FORMAL work is not available, then there is more chance of working in the INFORMAL sector (illegal,no tax,no security) SOCIAL conditions are normally better,and more available, e.g. clinics,schools,food kitchens,libraries,leisure centres, hospitals. Additionally, higher rates of car ownership have increased opportunities for personal mobility(from city to work,if necessary) Last week you saw some of the ‘Historical’ causes of urbanisation- What about the Causes of Urbanisation today in LEDCs (since 1950)?

INFRASTRUCTURE is better e.g. roads, sewers, running water, telephones, electricity and access to TV. SECURITY is perceived to be better;often the city will have governmental buildings, centres for Police, Army-very important in LEDC particularly. ENVIRONMENTAL especially in the LEDC, resulting from drought or earthquake/flooding. People therefore forced to move to more secure urban areas. MULTIPLIER EFFECT/CORE-PERIPHERY As a country develops, the attractions of the Core ‘towns’ ensure that further growth is attracted. What causes Urbanisation?

Some consequences of Urbanisation Millionaire Cities/Mega Cities/Megalopolis exacerbates N-S Divide? squatter settlements in LEDC improved Q of L in LEDC? Suburbanisation in MEDC development of yuppie culture,via gentrification exacerbates rich-poor divide/risks of social tension? increases informal economy leads more quickly to effective organisation of worker rights/health/safety? leads to core-periphery issues? increases congestion of traffic leads to high densities of population. increases risks of pollution. people lose touch with/care of,the natural environment? the driving force behind improved Q of L,and civilisation in general?

The Growth of Mega-Cities

In 1900 the only cities in the world with a population exceeding 1 million were London and Paris There were 70 by 1950 & 296 in the mid-1990s Of these, 34 cities had a population in excess of 5 million 6 had over 15 million The Growth of Mega-Cities The fastest growing cities are in Latin America and the ‘Japan- Korea’ region Most of the fastest-growing cities are located in LEDCs Cities in North America and western Europe are actually showing a decrease in overall size (see counter-urbanisation in a few lessons time)

Use the following data to mark onto the World map the 34 millionaire / mega- cities using the key provided. Use an Atlas, and the index to locate all the cities The Growth of Mega-Cities