Process of urbanization

1. PROCESS OF
URBANIZATION
Prabesh Ghimire
URBAN HEALTH

2. Urbanization
Process of urban concentration
Growth in the proportion of total population, which lives in
urban places
Urbanization proceeds in two ways:
• Multiplication of points of concentration
• Increase in size of individual concentrations
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3. Urbanization
Three aspects of the process of urbanization (Lampard)
Behavioural
• Experience of individuals through time
• Change in their behaviour pattern
Structural
• Change in economic structure of the population
• Increasing specialization and developing technology
Demographic
• Process of urban concentration
• Small homogenous society to large heterogeneous society
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4. Gibbs’ Sequential Stage Model
Five stage process
Stage I
Urban settlements emerge but the percentage increase in
urban population is equal to or less than the percentage
increase in rural population
Stage II
Characterized by higher rate of increase in urban
population that the rate of growth of rural population
Therefore the size of the urban centers become larger
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5. Gibbs’ Sequential Stage Model
Stage III
Rural-urban migration leads to rural depopulation
The rate of migration from rural to urban areas is higher than
the natural growth rate of population in rural areas
The rate of urban concentration excels further
Stage IV
Requirements of urban centers become more sophisticated
and they get oriented towards specialization
Larger cities start attracting migrants from small town
Small town starts stagnating
Big cities grow rapidly at the cost of small towns
The rate of rural-urban migration declines
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6. Gibbs’ Sequential Stage Model
Stage V
In the last stage, process of urban concentration becomes
weaker
Population does not remain confined to urban center
Population distribution tends to be more ubiquitous
Improvements in the means of transport enable outward
movement of people
Satellite town emerges at the periphery of large
metropolitan concentration
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7. Theory of Spatial (Urban) Cycle
Theory of Spatial Cycle (SCT) was introduced by
Klassen et al (1981) and firstly adopted by Van den Berg
et al. (1982)
The development of urban region may be described in
four phases:
1. Urbanization
2. Sub-urbanization
3. Counter-urbanization
4. Re-urbanization
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8. Urbanization
Rural areas>>>slow growth
Population growth with associated economic development
Intense movement of population from the suburbs
towards the inner city.
The area becomes “center of production”
Reasons for urbanization
• Rural Urban Migration
• Industrialization
• Growth in economic activity
• Public services
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9. Sub-urbanization
Urban-sprawl: expansion of human populations away
from central urban areas into low-density and usually car-
dependent peri-urban locations
Rapid urban growth leads new residential areas being
built in suburbs
The suburbanized population maintains strong social and
economic connections with the metropolis
• high levels of commuting and participation within the metropolitan
area’s ‘daily urban system
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10. Sub-urbanization
Separate smaller settlements merge into larger multi-
centric conurbations
A vicious circle of decline in inner city areas: “Donut
Cities”
Creates pressure on rural/urban fringe
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11. Sub-urbanization
Reasons for suburbanization
Social problems and overcrowding in inner city areas
causes richer people to move to suburbs
Lack of space for family groups to expand
Cheaper housing costs with greater use of space
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12. Counter-urbanization
People move to satellite settlements within the city’s
sphere of influence
Counter-urbanization leads to growth which is detached
from existing urban area
Rural areas can become commuter/dormitory settlements
Counter urban migrants do not maintain same degree of
metropolitan linkage as suburbanites
Although they may retain their metropolitan employment
initially, they seek a peri-urban lifestyle, possibly within but
no longer an integral part of metropolitan daily system.
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13. Counter-urbanization
Reasons for counter-urbanization
Increased car/vehicle ownership, greater affluence
Desire for safe, pleasant environment, the rural ideal
Perception of urban areas as dangerous, high levels of
crime
Change in tenure from public/renting to private ownership
Increased public services in rural areas.
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14. Re-urbanization/ Urban Renewal
Movement of people back into an area that has been
previously abandoned
Cities becomes “centres of consumptions”
Gentrification: renovations of deteriorated urban
neighbourhoods with arrival of wealthier people
Areas that were previously poor and probably derelict
become popular among people with disposable income.
These areas are usually in the old inner city.
Increase in rents and property values, and changes in the
area's character and culture
Increased economic activity
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15. Re-urbanization
Reasons for re-urbanization
Prestige projects introduced in the area
Real estate development
Tertiary sector increases: restaurants, nightclubs and
retailing attracting people
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Thank You
Prabesh Ghimire