Urbanization in the Urbanization in the Developing WorldDeveloping World

Concepts, Processes and Concepts, Processes and ComparisonsComparisons

Nature of Urbanization in Nature of Urbanization in Development ProcessDevelopment Process

• Development inevitably entails an Development inevitably entails an increase in urbanization- why?increase in urbanization- why?

• Because by and large impetus for Because by and large impetus for economic growth lies in the citieseconomic growth lies in the cities

• Urban populations are Urban populations are capital capital accumulatingaccumulating whereas rural populations whereas rural populations are are capital consumingcapital consuming

• Search for regularities in urban systems Search for regularities in urban systems has revealed several important has revealed several important distinctionsdistinctions

Concepts in UrbanizationConcepts in Urbanization• UrbanizationUrbanization- process which leads to a - process which leads to a

higher proportion of the total population higher proportion of the total population of an area to live in cities and townsof an area to live in cities and towns

• Urban growth-Urban growth- absolute or simple absolute or simple growth in the number of urban dwellersgrowth in the number of urban dwellers

• UrbanismUrbanism-characteristic way of life of -characteristic way of life of urban dwellersurban dwellers

• Exceptional is not so much the increased Exceptional is not so much the increased proportion of urban growth, but the proportion of urban growth, but the absolute growth of urban populationabsolute growth of urban population

• Rapid growth of cities in the developing Rapid growth of cities in the developing world has produced several distinctive world has produced several distinctive forms and processes forms and processes

World Urban PopulationWorld Urban Population

Urbanization Distinctions Between Urbanization Distinctions Between

DCs and LDCsDCs and LDCs • Urbanization began earlier in the DCs and Urbanization began earlier in the DCs and

by 1900 a reduction in mortality occurred by 1900 a reduction in mortality occurred as well as a reduction in birth ratesas well as a reduction in birth rates

• In the LDCs urbanization began laterIn the LDCs urbanization began later• Urban mortality lower than in rural areas; Urban mortality lower than in rural areas;

then declining urban mortality but high then declining urban mortality but high birth ratesbirth rates

• Stronger surge of in-migration compared Stronger surge of in-migration compared to DCs; industrialization lags behind to DCs; industrialization lags behind urban growthurban growth

Urbanization Curves for DC versus Urbanization Curves for DC versus LDCLDC

Density Gradient DistinctionsDensity Gradient Distinctions

Patterns of UrbanizationPatterns of Urbanization• Distinction between DC and LDC is 75 Distinction between DC and LDC is 75

percent versus 40 percent urbanpercent versus 40 percent urban• However striking variations exist across the However striking variations exist across the

LDCs in proportion of urban populationLDCs in proportion of urban population• Sub-Saharan Africa 30%; Latin America & Sub-Saharan Africa 30%; Latin America &

Caribbean 75%; Asia (excl China) 30%Caribbean 75%; Asia (excl China) 30%• Yet South Africa 50%, North Africa 45% and Yet South Africa 50%, North Africa 45% and

East Africa 20%East Africa 20%• Central America 68% and South America Central America 68% and South America

79%79%• West Asia 62% and Southeast Asia 37%West Asia 62% and Southeast Asia 37%• Why these variations in levels of Why these variations in levels of

urbanization?urbanization?

Region 2004Region 2004 Population Population (mil)(mil)

Urban Urban PercentPercent

Northern Northern AfricaAfrica

188188 4545

Western Western AfricaAfrica

256256 3535

Eastern Eastern AfricaAfrica

263263 2020

Middle AfricaMiddle Africa 104104 3333

Southern Southern AfricaAfrica

5050 5050

Central Central AmericaAmerica

144144 6868

CaribbeanCaribbean 3838 6262

South South AmericaAmerica

358358 7979

Western AsiaWestern Asia 204204 6262

South AsiaSouth Asia 1,5631,563 3030

Southeast Southeast AsiaAsia

544544 3737

Some Answers to Varying Rates of Some Answers to Varying Rates of UrbanizationUrbanization

• Is population size related to level of Is population size related to level of urbanization?urbanization?

• Some variation in levels of urbanization simply Some variation in levels of urbanization simply produced by varying levels of industrializationproduced by varying levels of industrialization

• Most important is the stronger tradition of Most important is the stronger tradition of urbanization in some areasurbanization in some areas

• Especially true of Middle East (the birthplace Especially true of Middle East (the birthplace of cities) and Latin America where Spanish of cities) and Latin America where Spanish colonialism produced a deeper urban patterncolonialism produced a deeper urban pattern

• Other areas the weakness of the rural Other areas the weakness of the rural agricultural base and hostile environment agricultural base and hostile environment means urban places are more dominantmeans urban places are more dominant

Features of Urbanization in Features of Urbanization in Developing WorldDeveloping World

• Rapid urbanization has been accompanied Rapid urbanization has been accompanied by explosive growth of very large citiesby explosive growth of very large cities

• Primate cityPrimate city is used to identify cities that is used to identify cities that dominate the urban pattern of their dominate the urban pattern of their respective countriesrespective countries

• Such cities are much larger than next Such cities are much larger than next largest city and account for much of the largest city and account for much of the political and economic activity as well as political and economic activity as well as services Examples: Bangkok, Mexico Cityservices Examples: Bangkok, Mexico City

• The growth of such large cities has The growth of such large cities has produced produced mega-cities mega-cities which exceed 10 which exceed 10 million Examples: Bombay, Calcutta, million Examples: Bombay, Calcutta, Jakarta (Jabotabek), Mexico City, Sao Jakarta (Jabotabek), Mexico City, Sao Paulo Paulo

Growth of Million CitiesGrowth of Million Cities

Largest Cities in The WorldLargest Cities in The World

Cities Over 5 MillionCities Over 5 Million

Growth of Cities: Real or False Growth of Cities: Real or False UrbanizationUrbanization

• The rapid growth of cities has been fueled by The rapid growth of cities has been fueled by rapid in-migration in addition to natural rapid in-migration in addition to natural increaseincrease

• Natural increase and internal migration each Natural increase and internal migration each account for 50 percent of urban growth in account for 50 percent of urban growth in the LDCsthe LDCs

• Must distinguish however between Must distinguish however between ‘true’ ‘true’ urbanizationurbanization where there is a concurrent where there is a concurrent expansion of non-agricultural activities and expansion of non-agricultural activities and ‘false’ urbanization‘false’ urbanization where people live in where people live in cities but do not really have fulfilling jobscities but do not really have fulfilling jobs

• The latter produces an The latter produces an urban involution urban involution whereby city feeds on itselfwhereby city feeds on itself

Urban InvolutionUrban Involution• Rapid urbanization brings chronic un- and Rapid urbanization brings chronic un- and

underemployment, over crowding and underemployment, over crowding and inadequate housing—why not revolutionary inadequate housing—why not revolutionary movement?movement?

• Contention is that the persistence of intensive Contention is that the persistence of intensive traditional and often rural originated traditional and often rural originated activities provide a sense of employmentactivities provide a sense of employment

• These labor intensive activities such as food These labor intensive activities such as food vendors and self employed repair occupations vendors and self employed repair occupations provide minimum incomeprovide minimum income

• Thus the service or tertiary sector of city Thus the service or tertiary sector of city swells to accommodate more and more swells to accommodate more and more jobless people by involution jobless people by involution

Economic Structure of the CityEconomic Structure of the City

• Involution is capacity of service sector to Involution is capacity of service sector to absorb more and more labor in a finely absorb more and more labor in a finely expressed division of jobsexpressed division of jobs

• Two parts: Two parts: Firm centeredFirm centered or formalor formal and and bazaar or informalbazaar or informal economy economy

• Firm centered consists of impersonal social Firm centered consists of impersonal social institutions, specialized occupations for institutions, specialized occupations for productive ends and is capital intensiveproductive ends and is capital intensive

• Bazaar economy consists of independent Bazaar economy consists of independent activities of highly competitive traders who activities of highly competitive traders who relate to one another through complex ad hoc relate to one another through complex ad hoc means-very personalizedmeans-very personalized

Informal or Bazaar economyInformal or Bazaar economy • Informal-Bazaar economy is the most Informal-Bazaar economy is the most

absorptiveabsorptive• Consist of carefully managed credit Consist of carefully managed credit

relationships, splitting of risks and relationships, splitting of risks and sliding pricessliding prices

• Effect is to split trading activities to Effect is to split trading activities to allow more to enter the systemallow more to enter the system

• Process of involution and absorption is Process of involution and absorption is characterized by tenacity of basic characterized by tenacity of basic patterns, internal ornateness and patterns, internal ornateness and unending virtuosity-special skillsunending virtuosity-special skills

Formal versus Informal Sector Formal versus Informal Sector ActivitiesActivities

• InformalInformal- characterized by small - characterized by small scale, easy entry, adapted technology, scale, easy entry, adapted technology, flexible hours, no set wages and flexible hours, no set wages and family or local organizationfamily or local organization

• FormalFormal- large scale, more difficult - large scale, more difficult entry requirements, often imported entry requirements, often imported technology, fixed hours of operation, technology, fixed hours of operation, daily/weekly or monthly wage, distant daily/weekly or monthly wage, distant ownership or management ownership or management

Urban StructuresUrban Structures

• Core areas of cities, known as Central Business Core areas of cities, known as Central Business Districts, were usually of colonial originDistricts, were usually of colonial origin

• Once heart of city activity now often peripheralOnce heart of city activity now often peripheral• Subsidiary cores have cropped up and are Subsidiary cores have cropped up and are

associated with new residential areasassociated with new residential areas• Port areas-often the initial site-have now Port areas-often the initial site-have now

declined in importancedeclined in importance• Squatter settlements often on the fringe Squatter settlements often on the fringe • Industrial areas have high access arteriesIndustrial areas have high access arteries

Typical Southeast Asian City Typical Southeast Asian City StructureStructure

Latin American City Typical Latin American City Typical StructureStructure

Contemporary Urbanization ProcessContemporary Urbanization Process

• Desa Kota-Desa Kota-- - regions of regions of an intense mixture of an intense mixture of agricultural and agricultural and nonagricultural nonagricultural activities that often activities that often stretch along corridors stretch along corridors between large city between large city cores. Literally in cores. Literally in Indonesian Indonesian desadesa (village) and (village) and kotakota (city). (city). These regions were These regions were previously characterized previously characterized by dense population by dense population settlement engaged in settlement engaged in agriculture, generally agriculture, generally but not exclusively but not exclusively dominated by wet rice.dominated by wet rice.