CGP Urban Change

• Urbanisation in the developed world


  • Cities have gone through rapid change since the 1970s
• Processes associated with urbanisation

  • Economic
  • Technological
  • Social
  • Political
  • Demographic
• Cities develop as they urbanise

  In lots of different ways
• People move from rural to urban areas


  Because cities offer more job opportunities and better paid jobs
• Urban population increases

  Businesses such as factories and shops grow in size and become more profitable, leading to more jobs and wage rises
• As countries develop

  Commercial farming overtakes subsistence farming, driving more people into towns and cities
• Cities vs rural areas

  • Cities tend to have higher living standards, eg. better access to healthcare and education, which attracts people
  • Cities become centres for cultural expression, eg, museums and art galleries open
• Migration of people into urban areas

  Increases the mix of people from different social backgrounds, making people more tolerant of others and creating a welcoming environment that attracts more migrants
• Segregation of people from different social backgrounds is also common in cities
• Emergence of factories in cities

  Urban areas become hotspots for technological advancement
• Examples of technologically advanced urban areas

  • Manchester in the 19th century, known as Cottonopolis
  • Silicon Valley in California
• Urban growth


  May lead to increased inequalities between rich and poor people, with a new 'working class' emerging
• New political movements


  Emerge to represent the working class population, focusing on issues that affect urban life
• As cities become larger and wealthier


  They attract migrants from all over the world, making urban areas more culturally and ethnically diverse
• Many young people are attracted to cities by jobs and entertainment, and choose to stay and raise families there, so cities tend to have a younger population than rural areas
• Deindustrialisation


  The decline of manufacturing industries in developed countries, as developing nations were able to produce goods more cheaply
• Deindustrialisation in the 1960s


  Led to the collapse of entire industries and mass unemployment in developed countries
• Rise of the service economy


  Many service industries (eg retail and banking) expanded and dominated western economies after deindustrialisation
• Decentralisation


  As land prices in city centres increase, businesses such as shops and offices may relocate to suburbs, leading to the decline of city centres
• Regeneration schemes used by UK governments since 1979

  • Urban Development Corporations (1979-1990)
  • Enterprise Zones (1981-present)
  • City Challenge (1991-1997)
  • Partnership Schemes (2010-present)
• Urban Development Corporations

  • Used private sector funding to restore derelict areas, with aims to attract new businesses, improve the local environment, create jobs and build new houses
  • Criticised for ignoring the needs of local residents
• Enterprise Zones


  • Aimed to attract start-up companies by reducing tax, but encouraged existing companies to relocate, limiting the number of new jobs created
• City Challenge

  • Local authorities competed for government funding to regenerate deprived urban areas, working with the local community and private companies
• Partnership Schemes

  • Government works with private companies to provide financial support and expertise for urban regeneration, designed to improve physical, economic and social conditions in deprived areas