15.9.2
What are the disadvantages of urbanisation?
FIGURE4 There are many disadvantages of urbanisation.
Pollution from cars, industry and power generation
Health issues as a result of poor sanitation, and high population densities, making it easier for diseases to be transmitted
Higher cost of living as rent and mortgage costs are higher in cities, where the land is more valuable. Food and amenities are also usually more expensive
Urbanisation
Homelessness and slums As a result of
Traffic congestion as a result of urban sprawl and a lack of public transport
higher homelessness rates in urban areas, slums can develop
Crime rates higher in urban areas as economic inequality tends to be more pronounced in urban areas
SkillBuilder discussion Concluding and decision-making
1. Rate the disadvantages listed above from most important to least important for the city you live in. Justify your decision. 2. Research the most recent crime rates and homelessness statistics for Melbourne. What are they and are they surprising? 3. Discuss with a partner any other disadvantages urban areas have that aren’t included in this diagram.
15.9.3 What are slums and how do they develop? When an urban area experiences an increase in people moving there, it may not have adequate infrastructure such as available housing and sanitation to accommodate the growing population. In many developing countries, urban growth has resulted in unplanned settlements called slums (other terms used around the world include ghettos, favelas, shantytowns, bidonvilles and bustees ). Almost 1 billion people live in slums worldwide. The United Nations defines a slum as follows: A person or a group of individuals living under the same roof in an urban area, lacking one or more of the following five amenities: (1) durable housing (a permanent structure providing protection from extreme climatic conditions) (2) sufficient living area (no more than three people sharing a room) (3) access to improved water (water that is sufficient, affordable and can be obtained without extreme effort) (4) access to improved sanitation facilities (a private toilet, or a public one shared with a reasonable number of people) (5) secure tenure and protection against forced eviction.
TOPIC15 Changing nations – urbanisation and migration 461
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