Urban population :
- 2018 : 55% of world population -> urban pop. = 4.2 billion.
- 2050 : (68%) = 6.7 billion
- Rapid growth of the world’s urban pop.
- From +700 M in 1950 to +4 billion in 2021 and +6 billion in 2050.
In 2021, The most urbanized regions :
- Northern America, Latin America and the Caribbean (+80%), Europe (75%), Oceania (68%) and Asia = 52%.
- In contrast, Africa = mostly rural, with 44% in urban areas.
- Africa and Asia = fastest urban population growth rate +2-3% per year.
- Europe = slowest.
The most populous cities in 2020 :
Tokyo (+37 million), New Delhi (30 million), Shanghai (27 million), Mumbai (22 million), Sao Paulo (22 million).
2050 : 90% of world pop. would be Asian or African.
Urban migration : “Push” and “Pull” factors :
- Migration = driver of urbanisation (740 million internal & 232 million international)
- Migration to urban centers = inevitable due to : aging societies, slow + uneven regional & national economic growth & environmental + political instability.
- Worldwide displaced persons (UNHCR) = 65.3 million (half seek refuge in urban areas)
Definitions
Push factors
Factors that make you want to leave a place (poverty, unemployment, enhance living standards, lack of : health care, education, cultural opportunities, tolerance, freedom & deprivation of political rights)
Pull factors
Factors that draw you to live in a place (hope for better job, social mobility, freedom, more opportunities in education, culture, more tolerance, freedom of anonymity, to be a nobody)
London…
Concentrates command functions (CF) of…
- Economy at world scale : Piccadilly Circus (busy London intersection + meeting place) + The City (oldest CBD, core of city’s economic act.) + “Pater Noster Square” (largest European stock exchange + headquarters of investment banks) -> Greater London & the City + Westminster + Canary Warf = Concentration of people, money, act., CF for national + global economy + Home for 75% of world 500 largest companies (economy cluster) + 22% of UK GDP + London (high tech city)
- Politics at world scale : City Hall of London (local) + Downing Street (Government offices & P.Minister residence) + Buckingham Palace (King Charles residence) -> Greater London = Royal family residence + British Parliament + British Government + Whitehall + world influence (Consulates) + Commonwealth capital
Concentrates multitude of attractive, cultural activities :
- Harry Potter Studio + The Notting Hill Carnival (one of world largest street fest. & significant event in Black British culture) + Palace of Westminster -> Greater London = 2nd most visited city in 2017 (+39 million) + home to 10 most visited tourist attraction + culture tourism (= £3.2 billion per year for economy)
Is a populous & cosmopolitan city that expands greatly :
- People go to Greater London for work, shopping, cultural act. & leisure -> Chinatown (West) + M25 (motorway encircling Greater London) = mosaic of people, faiths, culture from world + 40% of Londoners identify as Black, Asian or Minority Ethnic + 300 languages spoken.
Is a city with economical & social challenges :
- Canary Warf (2nd CBD, one of most powerful) + Tower Hamlets (impoverished neighborhood in south) + Beckham -> E & S (poor) N & W (pop. higher incomes) + gentrification = social inequities (28% + 4/10 live below poverty line) + 50% households in TH + most expensive city of EU
Faces many challenges :
- Brexit + environmental challenges (pollution, waste, energy) + Terrorism -> London = A target for terrorism + economy challenged by Brexit (reliant on international business)
Is carrying out significant urban development projects to become more attractive :
- Reconstruction of underground station + Greenwich Millennium Village (eco-friendly neighborhood) + Nine Elms project -> Greater London + east (GMV) + south east (NE) along the Thames = Attracts many people, act., investors -> many neighborhoods regenerated + gentrification (arrival of +affluent individuals & displacing those who can’t afford increased rents).
Is a well connected city :
- Heathrow (1 of 5 airports serving +100 destinations) + London Bridge Station -> London = major transport hub with 5 airports, 9 main railway stations, motorways, roads, oldest underground, port, high-speed train (Eurostar)
London = global city
- Serves as one of the command centers of globalized economy.
- Appealing, multicultural, cosmopolitan & thriving city.
- Experiences a significant socio-spatial fragmentation process (city center undergoing gentrification = less affluent pop. move away to outskirts.
Since 1980s & increasing globalization, metropolises emerged.
New International Division of Labour concentrated tertiary & command functions in metropolises -> international opening.
Decrease in transportation costs & development of Internet = global metropolises (NYC, London, Tokyo or Paris) becoming +interconnected -> Megalopolitan Archipelago + more connections to each other than with local environments.
Richest global metropolises benefit of “metropolitan advantage” (synergy between higher tertiary functions like research & development, industry & universities & transportation hub & connectivity.