Population Growth and Third World Cities
Pattern of Population Growth
- Rapid Growth of Urban Population in Third World as
compared to the First World countries
- Continental variation in urban population
- Slowing of Third World Urban Growth Rates
- Proliferation of Mega-Cities (8 million population);
Role of Secondary Cities
- Primate Cities; Rank-size rule
Implications of the Urban Growth
- Urban poverty; Crime and safety concerns; Environmental
Problem
- Inadequate sanitation; Access to water; Public Health;
Social services
- Overcrowding; slums; infrastructure provision
problem
- Employment opportunities/ Labor surplus
Sources of Urban Growth
- Migration: Rural - Urban; Urban - Urban
Lure of the big city; Job opportunities (pull
factor); Inadequate job/ subsistence opportunities in rural areas (push
factor); Better facilities (e.g. medical; education)
- Circulators
- Natural Growth
Agglomeration: Localization and Urbanization Economies
- Urbanization economy: Concentration of
different types of industries in a large city due to access to larger
labor market, greater financial resources, better infrastructure
support. Most large cities with diversified economy also exhibit
urbanization economy.
- Localization economy: Concentration of similar or
related industries due to availability of skilled labor in the industry,
cooperation between the firms for innovation. E.g. Silicon
Valley. In the third world, Sao Paolo with automobile
industries.