Factors Affecting the Growth of Cities (College Board AP® Human Geography)

Changes in Transportation & Communication

• Globally, there are increasing rates of urbanization due to pull factors. Examples include:

  • housing

  • jobs

  • education

• More developed countries (MDCs) tend to be highly urbanized, while urbanization is increasing in less developed countries (LDCs)

• Changes in urbanization and suburbanization can be caused by:

  • access to transportation

  • communication

  • changing population demographics

  • migration

  • economic development

  • government policies

• Advances in transportation and communication technology have caused significant urban growth. Changes in transportation and communication impact:

  • the location, size, layout, and function of cities

  • their connections to surrounding areas

• Changes in transportation can provide for:

  • increased accessibility

  • the formation of urban hierarchies

  • decentralization

• The development of railroads, highways, and public transit allows cities to expand and grow larger

• Changes in transportation also facilitate the development of suburbs

  • With increased transportation options, people can live further from where they work and shop, leading to larger cities and the development of suburbs and urban sprawl

    • This can lead to decentralization

  • On the other hand, a lack of transportation means that cities will tend to shrink in size and cities will lack interaction with one another

• Cities with major transportation hubs, such as airports or harbors, often become regional or global economic centers, ranking high in urban hierarchies

• Technological increases in communication increase economic activity, causing the growth of cities

  • Telecommunications and the internet allow cities to more efficiently integrate into a global network

    • This leads to the growth of world cities, such as New York and Tokyo, as hubs of information and commerce

Population Growth and Migration

• The populations of cities grow through both natural increase and immigration

Natural increase

• Urban areas experience population growth through natural increase when birth rates exceed death rates

  •  This is usually a result of:

    • increased healthcare

    • better sanitation

    • improved living conditions in cities

Immigration

• Immigration into cities can be both internal and international

  • Internal migration is characterized by migration from rural to urban areas

  • International migration refers to immigration from other countries 

    • Most international migrants move to cities rather than rural areas because of greater job and educational opportunities

• There are both pull and push factors which lead to migration to urban areas

• Pull factors are the attractive features of the urban areas that pull people to the towns and cities

• Push factors are the negative features of the rural area or other country people are migrating from that push them away from that place

International migration

• International migration results in urban growth, especially in world cities

  • Large numbers of international migrants create multicultural urban populations

    • This has direct effects on the cities’ culture and economy

  • Cities in LDCs experience high rates of population growth, while cities in MDCs experience slower rates of growth or stabilization

  • While LDCs are characterized by rapid urbanization, MDCs are often characterized by increases in suburbanization

• As cities grow, the population tends to shift to suburban areas due to:

  • better living conditions

  • affordable housing

  • transportation improvements. This trend is characteristic of MDCs

Economic Development

• Economic development is a main cause of urbanization and urban population growth

• Historically, cities have emerged and expanded due to their function as centers of commerce and industry, attracting populations seeking economic opportunities

  • As a result of industrialization, migrants move from rural to urban areas in search of jobs

• Globalization and the rise of world cities led to the growth of cities and their populations

  • World cities serve as hubs of finance and trade, providing jobs for migrants and increasing global interconnectivity between cities

  • Cities attract migrants because of more job opportunities and generally higher wages

    • As more and more people move to cities, more new businesses are created and infrastructure demands increase

Government Policies and Urbanization

• Government policies can also affect:

  • urbanization

  • the growth of cities

• These policies influence: 

  • infrastructure development

  • housing availability and pricing, 

  • types of economic activity engaged in

  • the overall spatial organization of cities

• Government policies that support investment in infrastructure improve the quality of life in cities and allow the cities to expand, For example:

  • roads

  • public transportation

  • water supplies

  • sanitation 

• Local governments determine zoning and land use policies

  • Governments regulate how land is used and designate specific areas for residential, commercial, and industrial purposes 

• Too much or too rapid growth can limit affordable housing or lead to de facto segregation

  • Governments can mitigate these effects by enacting policies supporting the building of affordable housing or zoning for more residential areas

  • Governments can attract people and businesses to cities by:

    • supporting the building of schools

    • supporting the building of entertainment options

    • offering financial incentives, such as tax breaks. 

  • Governments might focus on revitalization and redevelopment projects in rundown urban areas to attract new residents and businesses