Introduction to the Mega Introduction to the Mega City & the Global CityCity & the Global City

How did Industrial Revolution How did Industrial Revolution create a push towards create a push towards

Urbanization?Urbanization?

In 1800 only 3% of the world’s population lived In 1800 only 3% of the world’s population lived in cities. in cities.

By end of 20By end of 20thth Century, 47% did so. Century, 47% did so. In 1950, there were 83 cities with populations In 1950, there were 83 cities with populations

exceeding one million; but by 2007, this had exceeding one million; but by 2007, this had risen to 468 risen to 468

Continued…Continued…

The Industrial revolution kick started the city growth by:The Industrial revolution kick started the city growth by:1.1. Improving food availability – better roads, trains and Improving food availability – better roads, trains and

truckstrucks2.2. Movement of jobs – no longer were people working the Movement of jobs – no longer were people working the

land, now factories were being built in the cities, thus a land, now factories were being built in the cities, thus a migration from rural areas to cities, mechanization of migration from rural areas to cities, mechanization of machines eliminates manual labourmachines eliminates manual labour

3.3. Elimination of the health risks – the industrial revolution Elimination of the health risks – the industrial revolution improved handling of sewage/ garbage and also improved handling of sewage/ garbage and also provided safe drinking water = less deaths and greater provided safe drinking water = less deaths and greater population densitiespopulation densities

Continued…Continued…

4.4. Mass transit – the travel distance Mass transit – the travel distance between people was reduced by between people was reduced by subways and street.subways and street.

No more walking to work = living greater No more walking to work = living greater distances from workdistances from work

Mega Cities Are:Mega Cities Are:

Urban areas with populations greater than Urban areas with populations greater than 10 million people10 million people

Rapidly growingRapidly growing Characterized as having high levels of Characterized as having high levels of

poverty, crime and high levels of social poverty, crime and high levels of social fragmentation. fragmentation.

A mega city can be a single metropolitan A mega city can be a single metropolitan area or two or more metropolitan areas area or two or more metropolitan areas that converge upon one another. that converge upon one another.

Mega Cities Around the WorldMega Cities Around the World In 1950, New York was the only urban area with In 1950, New York was the only urban area with

a population of over 20 million.a population of over 20 million. Currently 24 Mega Cities in the worldCurrently 24 Mega Cities in the world

Top 5 Mega Cities Top 5 Mega Cities

1. Tokyo, Japan - 28,025,000 1. Tokyo, Japan - 28,025,000 2. Mexico City, Mexico - 18,131,000 2. Mexico City, Mexico - 18,131,000 3. Mumbai, India - 18,042,000 3. Mumbai, India - 18,042,000 4. Sáo Paulo, Brazil - 17, 711,000 4. Sáo Paulo, Brazil - 17, 711,000 5. New York City, USA - 16,626,000 5. New York City, USA - 16,626,000

Canadian Mega CitiesCanadian Mega Cities The 1990s, the forced amalgamation of several The 1990s, the forced amalgamation of several

municipalities created what was labeled a mega city by municipalities created what was labeled a mega city by the mediathe media

None of the municipalities actually fit the definition of a None of the municipalities actually fit the definition of a mega citymega city

Examples include:Examples include:

Halifax - the cities of Halifax and Dartmouth and surrounding Halifax - the cities of Halifax and Dartmouth and surrounding municipalities were merged in 1996 into the HRM, often called a municipalities were merged in 1996 into the HRM, often called a "mega city," with a total population of 360 000. "mega city," with a total population of 360 000.

Toronto - In 1998 the municipalities that constituted the Municipality Toronto - In 1998 the municipalities that constituted the Municipality of Metropolitan Toronto were merged into a new City of Toronto, of Metropolitan Toronto were merged into a new City of Toronto, currently the largest of the Canadian cities, with a population of currently the largest of the Canadian cities, with a population of 2,503,281 in 2006. The Greater Toronto Area (or GTA) had a 2,503,281 in 2006. The Greater Toronto Area (or GTA) had a population of 5,555,912 in 2006.population of 5,555,912 in 2006.

Global Cities

PRESTIGE STATUS POWER INFLUENCE

Demographic

-Large population

-Many well educated people

-Ethnic diversity

Technological

-Good accessby air-State of the art communication- Centre of research and development

Economic

-Capital/moneycentre-Large corporation headquarters

Political

- National seat of democratic government-Headquarters of major governing bodies

Cultural

-Excellence in arts and entertainment-Rich heritage-Prestigious universities and research institutes-Museums

QUALIFYING ATTRIBUTES

A Few More Characteristics A Few More Characteristics

International, first-name familiarity – Paris NOT International, first-name familiarity – Paris NOT Paris, FranceParis, France

Active influence on and participation in Active influence on and participation in international events and world affairs - New York international events and world affairs - New York City is home to the United Nations headquarters City is home to the United Nations headquarters complex complex

A fairly large population of at least one million, A fairly large population of at least one million, typically several milliontypically several million

several international cultures and communities several international cultures and communities such as a Chinatown, Little Italy such as a Chinatown, Little Italy

Just to Name a FewJust to Name a Few

LondonLondon New York CityNew York City ParisParis Tokyo Tokyo San Francisco Sydney Toronto Zürich

Push FactorsPush Factors The poverty and living conditions in the The poverty and living conditions in the

rural areas actually push people from the rural areas actually push people from the rural to the urban settings. They move in rural to the urban settings. They move in hopes of finding better living conditions.hopes of finding better living conditions.

In the MDC’s the rural areas are usually In the MDC’s the rural areas are usually more attractive places to live than in the more attractive places to live than in the LDC’s. Some find there are fewer services LDC’s. Some find there are fewer services in the rural areas. in the rural areas.

NegativeNegative

Giving up clean air, peaceful environment.Giving up clean air, peaceful environment.

Pull FactorsPull Factors The skyscrapers, freeways and excitement are The skyscrapers, freeways and excitement are

equally attractive in both the LDC’s and MDC’s. equally attractive in both the LDC’s and MDC’s. Don’t forget the work opportunities in the urban Don’t forget the work opportunities in the urban LDC’s and MDC’s. Both have the opportunity of LDC’s and MDC’s. Both have the opportunity of better education, jobs and better medical better education, jobs and better medical facilities. facilities.

NegativesNegatives They also offer less desirable opportunities such They also offer less desirable opportunities such

as landfill scavenging, and begging for money as landfill scavenging, and begging for money on the overcrowded streets.on the overcrowded streets.