Rapid urbanization is the direct and desirable result of rapid economic development. According to the Cambridge dictionaries online, urbanization is referring to "the process by which more and more people leave the countryside to live in cities" (2006, Internet). Historically, growth in economic activities has conceived many mega cities as well as social problems due to the migration of a rural work force in search of a better livelihood. The United Nations estimates that about 180,000 people are being added to the urban population every day. This means the world's urban infrastructure has to absorb the equivalent of the population of two Tokyo cities each year (BBC website, 2006). Increased urbanization, especially in developing countries such as China and India, has caused problems such as pollution, pressure on resources and urban unemployment. According to the BBC website, Developing nations are shouldering the vast majority of this burden, leaving them struggling to cope with the huge influx of people into urban areas (Source: BBC website).
Percentage of World Population- Urban/Rural
Urbanisation
UrbanisationThis project will discuss such social costs which are the result of rapid urbanization and economic development. Social costs of urbanization are mainly caused by massive increases in population of cities at certain periods. Main causes for such urban problems are population growth and the inability of governments to provide basic amenities such as clean water. Moreover, social costs also include pollution and deterioration of quality of life.
According to Wikipedia, urbanization causes rapid increase in the population of cities
Economic growth and rise in cost of living will cause inequality of incomes and lifestyles of skilled and unskilled workers. According to UNEP, unemployment is a pressing concern in most cities in the South Asian countries because the formal economies are unable to absorb the enormous influx of workers (Source: UNEP website, 2006). Also, rapid...