Urbanization can also be referred to as urbanisation. It refers to the shift in population from rural to urban areas. What are the factors that promote and limit urbanization? Let’s dig in and find out more.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
By the end of this topic, you are expected to;
Urbanization refers to the shift in population from rural to urban areas, the gradual increase in the proportion of people that live in urban areas, and the ways in which every society adapts to this change. It can also be said to be the process through which cities and towns are formed and become larger as more people start living and working in central areas. Despite the fact that urbanization and urban growth can be used interchangeably, urbanization should be distinguished from urban growth: urbanization refers to the proportion of the nation’s total population living in areas that are classed as urban. Urban growth, on the other hand, refers to the absolute number of people living in areas that are classed as urban.
The United Nations had projected that half of the population of the world would live in urban areas at the end of the year 2008. Recently, the United Nations has projected that nearly all global population growth from 2017 to 2030 will be by cities.
Urbanization is of importance to many disciplines such as public health, economics, urban planning, sociology, geography and architecture. The phenomenon has been linked closely to industrialization, modernization and the sociological process of rationalization.
CAUSES OF URBANIZATION
Urbanization occurs either organically or planned as a result of individual, state or collective action. Living in a city can be economically and culturally beneficial because it can provide greater opportunities for access to the labor market, housing, better education and safety conditions. It also reduces the expense and time of commuting and transportation. Conditions such as marketplace competition, diversity, density and proximity are elements of an urban environment that is deemed positive.
People in cities are more productive than in rural areas. Urban geographers have shown that there exists a large productivity gain as a result of being located in dense agglomerations.
Urbanization creates opportunities for women that may not be found in rural areas.
Cities provide a larger variety of services that are not found in rural areas. These services require workers, therefore, resulting in more numerous and varied job opportunities. Elderly people may be forced to move to cities where there are hospitals and doctors that can cater to their health needs.
Generally, many people move into cities for economic opportunities. Rural flight is a contributing factor to urbanization. In cities, wealth, money, services and opportunities are centralized. Many rural inhabitants come to the city to seek their fortune and change their social position. Businesses that provide jobs and exchange capital, are more concentrated in urban areas. Whether the source is tourism or trade, it is also through the ports or banking systems, normally located in cities, that foreign money flows into a country.
ECONOMIC EFFECT
As the development of cities occur, effects may include a dramatic increase and change in costs mainly pricing the local working class out of the market, including functionaries such as local municipalities.
One of the major problems of urbanization is the development of slums. Other problems include an increase in crime rates and pollution. Some positive effects of urbanization include reduction of expenses in commuting and transportation while improving opportunities for education, jobs, housing, transportation and education. Living in cities allows individuals and families to take advantage of the opportunities for diversity and proximity.
