Economic Development and Urbanisation

This page delves into the economic factors driving urbanization and the concept of the multiplier effect in urban areas. It explains various types of migration contributing to urban growth.

The types of urbanisation in Geography covered include:

1. Rural-urban migration
2. International migration
3. Internal migration (movement within a country)

Natural increase, defined as the difference between births and deaths in a year, is also highlighted as a factor in urban population growth.

Highlight: The economic development multiplier effect in urban areas is a key concept explained in this section.

The multiplier effect is illustrated through a chain reaction:

1. Economic growth attracts people to cities
2. More people lead to increased housing demand
3. Larger population creates more customers
4. More customers support more industries
5. More industries create more jobs
6. More jobs attract even more people

This cycle demonstrates how initial economic growth can lead to sustained urban expansion through interconnected economic and demographic factors.

Rural vs Urban Comparison and Employment Types

This section contrasts rural and urban environments, highlighting the factors that drive urbanization. It also introduces different types of employment found in urban areas.

Rural areas are characterized by:

• Few opportunities
• Poor healthcare
• Low pay
• Difficult work
• Low level of education

In contrast, urban areas offer:

• Many more jobs
• Better pay
• Better education
• Better healthcare
• Better housing
• Modern lifestyle
• Many more opportunities

Definition: Formal employment refers to jobs that pay taxes and provide workers with job security and legal protection (e.g., health and safety laws). These jobs are often hard to obtain in developing countries.

Definition: Informal employment includes jobs that are not regulated, pay no taxes, and are not protected by law. These jobs are typically easier to get but offer less security.

This comparison helps explain the urbanisation process in geography paper 1 GCSE by illustrating the push and pull factors influencing rural-urban migration.

Working Conditions and Urban Change

This page focuses on working conditions in emerging or developing countries and introduces key concepts related to urban change.

Working conditions in developing countries often include:

• Unsafe, stressful, or uncomfortable environments (e.g., hot, polluted)
• Long working hours with no breaks

Vocabulary: The tertiary sector, also known as the service sector, is introduced as a key component of urban economies.

The section then defines several important concepts related to urban change:

Definition: Urbanisation is the increase in the number of people living in cities.

Definition: Counter-urbanisation is the movement of people out of cities into the countryside.

Definition: Suburbanisation is the movement of people, industry, and jobs from the center of a city to its outer areas.

Definition: Regeneration refers to new investment into old, run-down parts of a city.

These concepts are crucial for understanding the dynamic nature of urban development and the challenges of megacities in an urbanising world.

Stages of City Development and Megacity Structure

This section outlines the stages of city development and introduces the Burgess Model for understanding megacity structure.

The stages of city development are described as follows:

1. The central business district (CBD) is located where the city first developed and where all major roads join.
2. A manufacturing zone develops around the CBD.
3. New migrants live in the inner city zone where housing is poor but cheap and close to their jobs.
4. Developing public transport allows richer people to live further out in suburbs.

Highlight: The Burgess Model is presented as a way to understand megacity structure.

The Burgess Model divides the city into concentric zones:

• Central Business District (CBD)
• Factories
• Low-class residential
• Medium-class residential
• High-class residential

This model helps illustrate the spatial organization of different urban functions and socio-economic groups within a megacity, which is crucial for understanding the challenges of megacities in an urbanising world.

Location and Structure of Mumbai

This page focuses on Mumbai as a case study of a megacity, examining its location, structure, and growth.

Key points about Mumbai's location and structure:

• It has one of the deepest natural harbors in the world, giving it significant advantages as a major port on the Arabian Sea.
• The city was originally built on seven islands, which has constrained its growth and made land very expensive.
• New Mumbai was developed on the mainland from 1971 to accommodate expansion.

Mumbai's growth is characterized by:

• Suburbs spreading along railway routes and onto the mainland
• Industrial sectors moving away from the old city center

Definition: A megacity is defined as a city with a population of 10+ million.

This case study of Mumbai provides concrete examples of the challenges of megacities in an urbanising world, particularly in terms of spatial constraints and the need for planned expansion.

Mumbai Fact File and Reasons for Growth

This section provides key statistics about Mumbai and explores the reasons behind its rapid growth.

Mumbai Fact File:

• Estimated population in 2013: 12 million (9.9 million in 1991)
• Population growth rate: 2.9% per year
• GDP in 2015: $278 billion
• 42% of people live in slums
• 68% work in the informal sector

Reasons for Mumbai's growth:

1. Rural-urban migration
2. High rate of natural increase (large families, although birthrate is falling)
3. Strong economy attracting foreign investment
4. Center of high-tech industries, Bollywood, and finance
5. Huge informal sector providing employment opportunities

Highlight: The informal sector plays a crucial role in Mumbai's economy, with 68% of the population working in this sector.

Opportunities for living in a megacity like Mumbai include:

• Access to jobs (often to send money to families)
• Better education for children
• Improved healthcare
• More entertainment and marriage opportunities

This information helps explain the rapid urbanisation process in geography paper 1 GCSE and the factors driving megacity growth in developing countries.

Megacity Challenges: Housing

This page focuses on the housing challenges faced by megacities, with a particular emphasis on slums and shanty towns.

Key housing challenges in megacities:

• Rapid population growth outpaces the construction of affordable housing
• Shortage of affordable housing forces people to live in slums or shanty towns
• Shanty towns (squatter settlements) are built using whatever materials people can find

Definition: Shanty towns, also known as squatter settlements, are informal housing areas where people build homes out of whatever materials they can find.

Challenges of slums and shanty towns include:

• Dangers from fire, flooding, and landslides
• Lack of clean water and electricity
• High crime rates
• Stressful living conditions

These housing issues are central to understanding the challenges of megacities in an urbanising world and are often a focus in Challenges of an Urbanising World Past Papers.

Megacity Challenges: Water Supply, Waste Removal, and Employment

This section explores additional challenges faced by megacities, focusing on infrastructure and employment issues.

Water supply and waste removal challenges:

• Many areas lack piped water supply
• Bottled water is available but expensive and not affordable for everyone
• Some people resort to taking water from polluted rivers or streams, risking disease

Employment challenges:

• Most people in megacities like Mumbai work in the informal sector
• Low and irregular pay is common
• Working conditions can be dangerous
• Low pay often leads to child labor, limiting educational opportunities

Highlight: The prevalence of informal employment in megacities is a key issue, with most people in Mumbai working in this sector.

Traffic congestion is also highlighted as a significant problem, with streets often clogged with vehicles.

These challenges illustrate the complex social challenges of megacities and the difficulties in managing rapid urban growth in developing countries.

Megacity Living: Contrasts in Mumbai

This final section highlights the stark contrasts within Mumbai, showcasing both extreme poverty and wealth.

Key points about living in Mumbai:

• Dharavi is a well-known slum area in Mumbai
• Andheri is a popular middle-class suburb
• Mumbai is home to Asia's largest slum
• The city also boasts one of the world's most expensive single-family homes
• Mumbai's railway station is one of the busiest in the world

Example: The contrast between Dharavi slum and the world's most expensive single-family home in Mumbai illustrates the extreme inequality within megacities.

The document notes that squatter settlements often develop close to the city center, where the poorest people tend to live. This proximity to urban centers is often due to the need for access to employment opportunities.

These contrasts within Mumbai exemplify the complex socio-economic landscape of megacities and the challenges of managing urban growth and inequality. This information is crucial for understanding the challenges of megacities in an urbanising world and is often featured in Challenges of an Urbanising World Past Papers.

Urbanisation Process and Key Concepts

This section introduces fundamental concepts related to urbanization and megacities. It covers important definitions and examples that are crucial for understanding the urbanisation process in geography paper 1 GCSE.

The document defines a megacity as a city with at least 10 million inhabitants. It also explains the concept of a world city, which plays a dominant role in global processes. Urban primacy is introduced as the phenomenon where one city dominates the rest of the country. The term hinterland is defined as the region surrounding a city.

Example: Tokyo and Delhi are provided as examples of megacities.

The section also outlines methods for calculating urban growth rates, including the formula for percentage increase:

Percentage increase = $Actual increase / Original value$ x 100

This formula is essential for quantifying and comparing urbanization rates across different cities and regions.