Urbanization in Less-Developed Countries

Chapter 23

Issues

• Rapid population growth in LDCs (peripheral areas of the world)

• Advances of the 3rd Agricultural Revolution push people off of the land

• New international division of labor (global cores and peripheries)

• Overurbanization—cities are growing more rapidly than their jobs and housing can sustain.

20 largest cities in 2004

Historical perspective

• Sometimes cities were established where no significant urban settlement existed. The colonial imprint is pervasive.– Mumbai (Bombay)– Koltata (Calcutta)– Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)– Hong Kong– Jakarta– Nairobi

Historical perspective

• Some had colonial functions grafted onto existing settlement. (The colonial imprint is most visible in the center of the city.)– Mexico City– Shanghai– Tunis– Delhi

Latin American Cities

• Laws of the Indies– Gridiron with

rectangular blocks– Central plaza with

Catholic church, government buildings, and shops

– Wealthy lived close to the plaza

– Middle and lower income further out

San Miguel, Mexico

The Latin American CityCBD includes a

modern self-contained commercial district and a separate traditional mixed market area with street-oriented businesses

The Latin American City• Commercial spine

surrounded by elite residential sector

• Best urban services and most of the high end locations outside the CBD

• Suburban shopping center might compete with the downtown

The Latin American CityModern suburban

industrial park at the end of a railroad or main highway.

The Latin American City

• Zone of maturity surrounding the CBD – Middle income – Good infrastructure– Some gentrification

The Latin American City• In situ accretion

with lower income neighborhoods

• Homes are often in a state of construction (many homes have half-finished rooms or second stories

The Latin American City• Peripheral

squatter settlements– Recent migrants

to city– Self-built– Almost completely

without urban services

The Latin American City• Disamenity

sectors along polluted rivers and industrial corridors

Southeast Asian Cities

Often established by Europeans as gateway cities to facilitate control of Asian trade.

Southeast Asian Cities

The port zone--the center of economic activity in the colonial era--has retained its importance

Southeast Asian CitiesInstead of a single CBD,

there are separate civic commercial/retail zones--a government zone

--a Western Commercial Zone

--one or more high density “alien” commercial zones (often dominated by

ethnic Chinese or Indian)

Southeast Asian Cities

New high-income suburbs have been built to accommodate recent growth

Southeast Asian Cities

Squatter settlements are found in zones of disamenity throughout the city (along polluted rivers and at the edge of a built-up area)

Southeast Asian Cities

A peripheral zone of intensive market gardening supplies fresh produce to the city’s markets.

Southeast Asian Cities

The new industrial estate (probably owned by a multinational corporation) lies on the outskirts of the city.

African CitiesCentral city consists of

three CBDs:

--Remnant of colonial CBD

--informal/periodic market zone

--transitional business center

African Cities

Ethnic neighborhoods radiate in sectors

African CitiesMining and

manufacturing zones are close by.

African Cities

Satellite townships or squatter settlements exist in the periphery.

The Developing World• Squatter settlements are

found on the edges of cities.

Rio favela

Durban, South Africa

The Developing World

• Money sent home by immigrants are called remittances.

• In 2003, immigrants in the US sent $30 billion abroad. (San Francisco Chronicle)

--29% of Nicaragua’s GDP is from remittances.--Some see remittances as a tool for development.

The Developing World

• Informal economy

Cleaning windshieldsThe Dominican Republic

Phone servicesIn Africa

Cooking lady in Peru

Lagos