Human Geography: November Mock Exam
Urbanisation
Urbanisation refers to the increase in the proportion of the population living in
urban areas such as towns and cities. In terms of global patterns, urban
populations have remained relatively constant in the past 500 years, up until
post – 1800’s, where urban populations saw an increase in HIC’s followed by
the most rapid increase in the mid-twentieth century. While the number of
people moving to urban areas is continuing to increase, the rate at which
urbanisation is occurring is decreasing, alongside decreases in rural to urban
migration.
- 55% of the global population live in urban areas, which is a 25% increase
since 1950; this percentage is expected to increase to an estimated 68%
by 2050 (in 1950 the worlds urban population was 750 million,
compared to a current 4.2 billion)
Suburbanisation
Suburbanisation refers to the expansion of urban areas as rural settlements
such as villages become absorbed by urban areas; this process is primarily
caused by the outward movement of wealthier demographics in search for a
better quality of life, with increased demand for housing in suburban regions
causing the areas to grow.
- Suburbanisation is occurring in Stoke Gifford in South Gloucestershire;
roughly 5 miles from the City of Bristol, Stoke Gifford has urbanised in
line with Bristol’s urban sprawl, with its population growing by 40
percent from 2001 to 2011.
- Strategies implemented in an attempt to limit the urban sprawl include
green belts; areas around a city where building is restricted in order to
preserve rural areas. However, these green belts are not always
successful as developers work to remove green belts and regain rights to
build on the land.
Counter-urbanisation
Counter-urbanisation is the process of people moving out of urban areas such
as cities into rural areas such as villages; this is typically caused by urban living
being branded unsatisfactory so searching for a better quality of life beyond
urbanised areas.
- Modern technologies and socio-economic advancements have meant
there are less drawbacks to living within a rural area. With counter-
urbanisation decreasing the number of people living within urban areas,
it may cause pressures to consequentially be placed on the inner-city
areas to regenerate.
, - However, counter-urbanisation can push up housing prices in rural areas
as well as heightening traffic and congestion levels
- St Ives in an example of a place experiencing counter-urbanisation
Urban Resurgence
Urban resurgence is the process of moving back into cities especially after the
deterioration of an area; this tends to occur when schemes created by
governments or councils are employed in order to improve quality of life in city
centres.
- City centres are the location of 72% of all highly skilled jobs and are 21%
more productive than non-urban areas
- Cast study for urban resurgence/ regeneration is the London Docklands
or Battersea Power Station
Mega Cities
- Urban areas with a population of over 10 million (defined by UNDESA)
- In the 1950’s there was only 2 megacities: New York and Tokyo,
however by 2016 there were 31 megacities globally
- UNDESA project that by 2030 the number of megacities will be 43
- More than 2/3 of all megacities are in developing countries, with Asia
alone accounting for over half of the worlds megacities
- The role of megacities is to play an integral role in contributing to
national and regional economies, with large workforces and
concentration of major businesses amplifying rapid economic growth
World Cities
- World cities/Global cities are those that have significant political and
economic influence on a global scale; they are now determined by
population or size but rather by their importance to world affairs
- World cities include New York, London and Tokyo
- World Cities typically drive global economies and businesses and are
often hubs for banking and finance, also characterised for their rich
culture and connections to the rest of the world via transportation links
that exemplify their presence in the globalised world
Urban Change – Deindustrialisation
Deindustrialisation is the decline of industry within a country, usually
measured by the reduction of industry employment. It began in the mid-20th
century in developed countries but has become increasingly present in
developing countries.
- Deindustrialisation has occurred on a mass scale in western society due
to industries struggling to compete with cheaper labour and
manufacturing costs in countries such as China, Singapore and Taiwan
Urbanisation
Urbanisation refers to the increase in the proportion of the population living in
urban areas such as towns and cities. In terms of global patterns, urban
populations have remained relatively constant in the past 500 years, up until
post – 1800’s, where urban populations saw an increase in HIC’s followed by
the most rapid increase in the mid-twentieth century. While the number of
people moving to urban areas is continuing to increase, the rate at which
urbanisation is occurring is decreasing, alongside decreases in rural to urban
migration.
- 55% of the global population live in urban areas, which is a 25% increase
since 1950; this percentage is expected to increase to an estimated 68%
by 2050 (in 1950 the worlds urban population was 750 million,
compared to a current 4.2 billion)
Suburbanisation
Suburbanisation refers to the expansion of urban areas as rural settlements
such as villages become absorbed by urban areas; this process is primarily
caused by the outward movement of wealthier demographics in search for a
better quality of life, with increased demand for housing in suburban regions
causing the areas to grow.
- Suburbanisation is occurring in Stoke Gifford in South Gloucestershire;
roughly 5 miles from the City of Bristol, Stoke Gifford has urbanised in
line with Bristol’s urban sprawl, with its population growing by 40
percent from 2001 to 2011.
- Strategies implemented in an attempt to limit the urban sprawl include
green belts; areas around a city where building is restricted in order to
preserve rural areas. However, these green belts are not always
successful as developers work to remove green belts and regain rights to
build on the land.
Counter-urbanisation
Counter-urbanisation is the process of people moving out of urban areas such
as cities into rural areas such as villages; this is typically caused by urban living
being branded unsatisfactory so searching for a better quality of life beyond
urbanised areas.
- Modern technologies and socio-economic advancements have meant
there are less drawbacks to living within a rural area. With counter-
urbanisation decreasing the number of people living within urban areas,
it may cause pressures to consequentially be placed on the inner-city
areas to regenerate.
, - However, counter-urbanisation can push up housing prices in rural areas
as well as heightening traffic and congestion levels
- St Ives in an example of a place experiencing counter-urbanisation
Urban Resurgence
Urban resurgence is the process of moving back into cities especially after the
deterioration of an area; this tends to occur when schemes created by
governments or councils are employed in order to improve quality of life in city
centres.
- City centres are the location of 72% of all highly skilled jobs and are 21%
more productive than non-urban areas
- Cast study for urban resurgence/ regeneration is the London Docklands
or Battersea Power Station
Mega Cities
- Urban areas with a population of over 10 million (defined by UNDESA)
- In the 1950’s there was only 2 megacities: New York and Tokyo,
however by 2016 there were 31 megacities globally
- UNDESA project that by 2030 the number of megacities will be 43
- More than 2/3 of all megacities are in developing countries, with Asia
alone accounting for over half of the worlds megacities
- The role of megacities is to play an integral role in contributing to
national and regional economies, with large workforces and
concentration of major businesses amplifying rapid economic growth
World Cities
- World cities/Global cities are those that have significant political and
economic influence on a global scale; they are now determined by
population or size but rather by their importance to world affairs
- World cities include New York, London and Tokyo
- World Cities typically drive global economies and businesses and are
often hubs for banking and finance, also characterised for their rich
culture and connections to the rest of the world via transportation links
that exemplify their presence in the globalised world
Urban Change – Deindustrialisation
Deindustrialisation is the decline of industry within a country, usually
measured by the reduction of industry employment. It began in the mid-20th
century in developed countries but has become increasingly present in
developing countries.
- Deindustrialisation has occurred on a mass scale in western society due
to industries struggling to compete with cheaper labour and
manufacturing costs in countries such as China, Singapore and Taiwan
