Urban Issues

Definitions
Cultural Diffusion
Economic Base
Megacity
Urban Growth
Urbanization
Decentralization
Suburbanization
Counter-urbanization
Infrastructure
Over-urbanization
Fiscal squeeze
Squatter settlements
Threshold population
Primate city

People Shifting
Why do people urbanize?
What would be reasons for people to move from the centre of cities to the suburbs?

POPULATION SHIFT
Two hundred years ago 5% of the world’s pop. (980 million) was urbanized.
Now 47% is urbanized.

Urbanization figures
Can anyone find a the problem with this figure of 47% urbanization?
Different countries have different criteria for recognizing an area as being urbanized.
Canada and Australia
population greater than 1000
Italy
Greater than 10,000
Japan
Greater than 50,000
Stats can’t be taken too seriously.

What is a Megacity?
A city that has a population over 8 million people.

Issues in Megacities
Come up with some of the major issues that megacities would face.
Crime
Sanitation
Housing
Over crowding
All forms of pollution
???
Squatter settlements

Urban Problems Activity

Problems with Urbanization
In developing countries people flock to urban areas before any economic growth or infrastructure has been put in place, this leads to unpleasant conditions.
What are the problems of growing Urban areas?
Read page 32 and 33. Answer question 9 on 33

Economic Problems
Low wage jobs – shoe shine, begging, selling souvenirs.
Leads to high prostitution.
Child labour
Huge gaps between rich and poor.
Hard to offer services to public
Schools, transportation systems, social services

Social Problems
Squatter settlements - Illegally set up settlements on land and do not pay rent.
Very poor living conditions – no sewers, water or electricity .
Slum Dwellers – pay rent
Poor living conditions
High sick rates
High Infant mortality
Poverty
Crime
World Bank gives aid to assist in educating and providing healthcare.