Lecture Notes: Urbanization and City Growth

Introduction to Urbanization

• Increasing trend of people moving from rural to urban areas.
• 2007 marked the first time more people lived in urban areas than rural globally (UN data).
• By 2050, it is projected that more than two-thirds of the world’s population will reside in urban areas.

Megacities and Metacities

• Megacities: Cities with over 10 million inhabitants.
• Metacities: Urban areas with more than 20 million inhabitants.
• Population growth trends:
  • Currently, many populous megacities are in core countries.
  • In the future, many megacities are expected to be in periphery and semi-periphery countries due to global migration and birth rate differences.

Urban Growth in Africa

• Africa is projected to double its population by 2050 and has one of the fastest urban growth rates.
• Urban population in African countries has shown consistent growth from 1950 to 2015.

Challenges of Urban Growth

• Increased demand for essential resources (water, housing, food, electricity).
• Pressure on infrastructure: sewer systems, roads, public transport.
• Some regions face shortages and unequal distribution of goods/services.
• Informal Settlements: Arise due to insufficient affordable housing, often lacking basic amenities (water, electricity).

Trends in Core Countries

• Experiencing counter-urbanization and suburbanization.
• Growth of suburban areas: boomburbs, exurbs, and edge cities.

Boomburbs, Exurbs, and Edge Cities

• Boomburbs: Rapidly growing suburban cities that maintain a suburban feel.
• Exurbs: Settlements outside suburban areas, connected to larger metro areas.
• Edge Cities: Economic districts on city outskirts, often with diverse services.

Urban Sprawl and Decentralization

• As urban areas expand, there is a shift of population and businesses to outer settlements (urban sprawl).
• Decentralization leads to growth of surrounding settlements gaining more control over resources and policies.

Transportation and Connectivity

• Expansion of roadways and public transport facilitates movement.
• Connectivity to CBDs and other settlements enhances access to services.

Bid Rent Theory

• Land cost decreases with distance from the CBD.
• Spatial layout: denser development near CBD, more dispersed farther away.

Future Trends

• Technological advancements will influence suburban growth.
• Varying urban challenges across geographic locations.
• Periphery and semi-periphery countries likely to see high urbanization rates.