Theory and Processes

What are they?

Where are they?

How have this changed?

Why has this changed?

Rural to Urban Migration is caused by a number of factors in the developing world

Forces of attraction (centripetal) towards urban

Forces of repulsion (centrifugal) away from rural

BUT – remember that some of these forces (in particular pull factors) are imaginary – ideals held in the minds of the migrants

Who lives in them?

What do they look like?

Where are they?

Why do they exist?

How can they be solved?

Facts about Mexico City

One of the largest and fastest growing cities in the world

19.2 million inhabitants in 2006 One of the oldest continuously inhabited sites

in the Americas Is on the former bed of a lake (Lake Texcoco) Prone to earthquakes which cause much

devastation (1985- 9000 killed)

Mexico Cities Problems

Urban sprawl – taken over areas of agriculture – often illegally.

Over 1000 immigrants arrive in the city every day from rural areas drawn by possibilities of work, education etc.

60% of population expansion is people from rural areas.

Population densities can reach to 500 people per hectare.

Growth constrained by mountains around edge.

Migrants move to Colonais on edge of city – developments for poor immigrants often have most urban services.

Mexico City Problems 2

Neza on the cities eastern edge has 1 ¼ million inhabitants and grown in under 30 years!

60% of the cities population live in dwellings originally designated as illegal

Are more upper class areas too – Satelite, Polanco and Napoles. BIG CONTRAST in services to poorer areas.

Mexico City Problems 3

40,000 manufacturing companies many are owned or partially owned by foreign investors.

40% unemployment

Large informal economy of street vendors

Minimum wage $2.50

Mexico City Problems 4

Pollution is a huge issue 98% of the population suffer from some form of

breathing problem. Lots of industry and vehicles are old and in bad

states of repair so pollution they create is worse Mexico city produces 40% of the countries

hazardous waste.

Mexico City Problems 5

80% of water comes from ground water supplies

This is being taken at twice the rate it can be replenished.

This has led to subsidence – remember built on old lake bed! – now problems with sewage disposal too.

Traffic big problem too – average speed on city roads is less than 10 mph

Solutions?

The master plan drawn up in 1980 has major problems Includes regulations to curb developments,

creating buffer zones and a conservation region. Restrictions are placed on industry to reduce

pollution. Have to reduce pollution by 40% if they don’t

reach target production has to stop.

Sustainable Cities and the Brown Agenda