Urbanisation

ByRonald R. Maharaj

What is Urbanisation?

Urbanisation is the process in which the number of people living in cities increases compared with the number of people living in rural areas. A country is considered to be urbanised when over 50% of its population lives in urban places.

Urbanisation is most rapid in Third World countries, where the world's largest cities occur. Mexico City, the world's largest city, has a population of more than 18 million, estimated to grow to over 26 million people by the year 2000.

URBANISATION LEVELS IN SOME THIRD WORLD COUNTRIES Mexico 69%

Argentina 84%Malaysia 38%Mauritius 54%Korea 64%Brazil 73%Algeria 43%Poland 60%

MDC’s and LDC’s

The process of urbanisation is different for MDC’s and LDC’s.

LDC’s

The process of urbanization has occurred differently in much of the developing world.

Historically many of these countries were former colonies They have some of the highest rates of population growth and the largest urban areas. They are characterized as being poor having significantly less technology then the developed world, and a very rapid transition from rural to urban societies.

LDC’s

Population is placing pressure on urban areas and without having the benefit of industrialization the lack of employment opportunities for the mass of urban migrants is undermining the ability of cities to incorporate people.  The consequences of this lack of employment opportunities are growing urban areas a large percent of whose population is unemployed and living in poverty and forced to live in unsanitary squatter settlements. 

MDC’s

In MDC’s the rural to urban migration was facilitated by large-scale industrialization and the need for labour

Causes of Urbanisation

reduce expense in commuting and transportation

improving opportunities for jobs, education, housing, and transportation.

greater variety of jobs to seek economic opportunities better basic services as well as other specialist

services that aren't found in rural areas elderly are often forced to move to cities

where there are doctors and hospitals that can cater for their health needs

variety of entertainment (restaurants, movie theatres, theme parks, etc)

Technology and Urbanisation

Due to the technological advances within urban areas, people are attracted in great amount to these centres

Effects of Urbanisation

Lack of housing and open areas of land Lack of safe and efficient transportation Crime Urban heat respiratory problems among human Fire hazards Loss of land for agriculture Loss of biodiversity Aid in global warming Abnormal births

Solutions to urban growth cities can be revitalized by

managing growth cleaning up environmentally

contaminated land reinvesting in existing

neighbourhoods changing governmental

infrastructure financing policies Establish urban growth boundaries Decentralisation

Counter-Urbanisation

Counter urbanization is a demographic and social process whereby people move from urban areas to rural areas. It first took place as a reaction to inner-city deprivation and overcrowding

The Causes of Counter-Urbanisation improvement of inner city transport

infrastructure, and more sustainable public transport, people no-longer have to live close to their work, and so can easily commute each day

housing density housing prices pollution crime levels Peaceful retirement Development in transportation

Technology and Counter-Urbanisation Technological change is an important

contributor to counter-urbanisation People find it easily to live in rural areas if

there are modern technologies as: Fax Computer with modem Freezer Telephone Television Automobile Air conditioning

Consequences of Counter-Urbanisation to rural areas Increase in demand of rural property

can cause prices to rise Young people cannot afford to buy

homes in their own village Newcomers to rural areas may not

appreciate the traditional customs of village life

Original inhabitants may feel swamped by new-comers

Consequences of Counter-Urbanisation to urban areas The people who leave cities to live in

rural areas tend to be skilled or be professionals. They are often well educated and earn god salaries.

People who are left behind tend to belong to the lower income groups, less skilled and less educated, and more likely to be unemployed

Consequences of Counter-Urbanisation to urban areas Due to population decline in urban

areas the following may occur: Funds diminish for transport,

education, leisure and other services Poorer unemployed people remain in

the city

THE END

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