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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