Megacities (AQA A Level Geography)
Revision Note
Written by: Jacque Cartwright
Reviewed by: Bridgette Barrett
Rise of Megacities
Not only is the world more urban, but the urban area is increasing
Many cities are sprawling into and engulfing rural regions to create conurbations, further adding to the growth of urban areas
As the growth of cities continues, the term megacity is used to describe cities with more than 10 million people
New York was the first megacity in 1950, with Tokyo 2nd
In 1975 there were 4 - New York, Tokyo, Osaka and Mexico City
By 2000 there were 15
In 2018 that rose to 33 with Tokyo having close to 37.3 million people
By 2025-2030, it is estimated that around 630 million people will live in close to 43 megacities around the world
With Asia alone, having at least 33 megacities, including Mumbai and Delhi, India; Shanghai, China; Seoul, South Korea and Lagos in Nigeria
This scaling up of the urban environment is the fastest in human history
Largest growth of megacities is seen in Asia
Reasons for growth
Economic development
Megacities dominate national and regional economies of countries
Many companies have their headquarters in megacities
Encourages population growth which leads to the desirability of goods and services
All megacities act as service centres within the formal economic sector
However, megacities in EMEs are also important manufacturing centres (Mumbai in India or Dhaka in Bangladesh) with thousands working in the informal economy
Population growth
Young people are drawn to live in megacities with their vibrancy, fast pace and opportunities
There is also ‘internal growth’ where people who have moved into the cities have children, so sustaining population growth (Mexico City, Mumbai, Pearl River Delta in China)
Rapid growth, often means that peri-urban, grow more rapidly than urban centres and this can lead to development of slums
Economies of scale
Cheaper to provide goods and services in one place than spread across several cities
Financial savings for local governments in respect of infrastructure provision
Communication and transport are centralised, making savings in time and money
Availability of skilled and unskilled workers (higher numbers allows for choice)
Multiplier effect
As a city prospers, it acts as a beacon to people and businesses
This encourages inward investment
This leads to yet more development and growth
Generating further need for skills and labour and job growth
This cycle multiplies the positive effects and growth continues (San Francisco and the digital development)
World Cities & Economies
World or global cities have a powerful attraction for people and businesses
They are influential cores with large peripheries and act as funnels for economic growth at various levels
World or global cities can be any size (they do not need to be megacities) but they exert particular influences around the globe
They are considered prestigious, with status and power, particularly as leaders of banking and finance
World cities play an important role in global politics through hosting international summits, (COP 21, G8 etc.) where leaders use their influence to drive trade deals and develop economic links with other countries
They are critical hubs for the flow of wealth, trade, people and culture
Home to world-renown universities with centres of research and development, science and innovation
The three top world cities are London, New York, and Tokyo
These are the financial centres of the world, each with smaller networks of world cities feeding into them
There are only four world cities in the southern hemisphere:
Sydney
Rio de Janeiro
Sao Paulo
Buenos Aires
Alpha or top-tier cities are a select band of cities, e.g. London, New York, Tokyo etc.
Due to their historic and continued influence, they are status points of global economic power
They are major hubs/nodes in the complex networks being produced through economic globalisation.
Their influence is linked primarily to the provision of financial and producer services
However, the status of cities are dynamic and new classifications are needed to show hierarchy within the global economic and political stage
These are graded the Alpha ++, Alpha + , Alpha, Alpha- through to Gamma- etc.
With only London and New York as Alpha ++
Worked Example
Outline the role that world cities play in the global economy.
[4 marks]
Point marked
Allow 1 mark per valid point with extra mark(s) for developed points (d).
Max 1 for a qualified example of a world city
Answer:
World cities are those that have the greatest influence on a global scale (1). For example, London is an Alpha ++ city due to it being a global financial centre (1) (d).
World cities play a critical role in the well-being of the world economy – only 100 cities accounting for 30% of the global economy (1). They have a disproportionate role in the global economy (1) (d).
World cities are ‘hubs’ through which wealth, trade, people and culture flow (1). They serve not only the country / region in which they are based but the rest of the world (1) (d).
World cities are seen as centres of innovation, which in turn attracts even more companies and migration of people (1). They are seen as centres of learning, where ideas are shared through universities and science parks (1) (d).
World cities are also important in the role of global politics. They host international summits such as G8 (1) (d) where leaders use their influence to drive trade deals and develop economic links with other countries (1) (d).
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