Unit 5: Urban Futures

the increase in the proportion of a country's population living in towns and cities

happened earlier due to the Industrial Revolution now rates have slowed, and even reversed

rapidy happening

a city with more than 10 million people

centers of economic, culture, and political activity that are strongly interconnected and together control the global systems of finance and commerce

London, Tokyo, New York most are in ACs

the process of urban areas rapidly expanding outwards

an area of open land around a city, on which building is restricted

often built on steep hillsides buildings made of flammable materials poor building quality high population density

buildings destroyed by landslides fire spreads easily slums collapse in earthquakes rapid disease spread

people work in rural areas but continue to work in the city people spend most of their time away at work so shops often close

the movement of people from the countryside to the city

natural disasters poor farming equipment drought conflict less jobs

more jobs with higher wages better healthcare better education better quality of life

the birth rate is higher than the death rate

young people move to cities for work better healthcare in cities

not enough jobs in cities lead to unemployment people have to work in the informal sector this is not taxed, has little pay and harsh conditions lack of education leads to lack of skills for jobs

lack of housing leads to squatter settlements lack of basic services (clean water and sewage) poor health high levels of crime

poor waste disposal and sewage systems rubbish ends up in landfills sewage and chemicals enter rivers and harm wildlife congestion leads to increased greenhouse gases

movement of people from city centres to the outskirts

urban areas are overpopulated too much pollution high unemployment rates

more green spaces better housing people can commute to work rent is cheaper

less people in inner city business struggle for customers and close down leads to unemployment

city centre becomes abandonded and derelict economic and ethnic segregation foreign immigrants are poorer and cannot afford better housing

new housing in countryside affects habitats increased use of cars to commute results in more air pollution

the movement of people from urban areas to rural areas

congestion and parking problems in urban areas housing is expensive

bigger houses more outdoor space improved communication services allow people to work from home cheaper for businesses to work in rural areas

rural areas have an increase in business newer residents are usually retired people or professionals with higher incomes farmers can sell unwanted land for housing more demand for housing so prices increase

younger people are unable to buy houses population is dominated by older people schools end up closing rural roads and infrastructure cannot cope with traffic may lead to commuter settlements

new housing affects wildlife most people in rural areas travel by car leading to congestion and air pollution

the movement of people back into urban areas

lack of jobs in rural areas less lesiure or entertainment house prices too high

more universities in urban areas can live closer to work developments in quality of life businesses returning encourage others to return

new shops and services open, boosting the economy tourism increases in the city centre original residents may have been unskilled so work now increases

less unemployment leads to less crime more students in state schools house prices increases so original residents move out possible tension between original and new residents shops may replace the shops for the original residents

redevelopment of brownfield sites improves old industrial and polluted areas decreases pressures on greenfield areas could destroy urban wildlife