Urbanization

Definition of concept
Urbanization

redistribution of
population from the countryside to the
city
Therefore, urbanization is measured as
the percent of the population residing
in an urban area
Urban

is defined by:

Population size
Space
Ratio of population to space - density
Economic and social organization
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Evolution of Urbanization
Urban

centres in Tanzania and in other East

African countries were established to serve the
colonial interests.
They served three distinct functions:
Trade
Administration and
Settlement and agriculture

To

serve the above functions towns were

founded along the railway lines. for obvious
reasons
Railways, being a commercial venture, were
developed in those regions that were
potentially productive and promotional of trade
Prior to the arrival of colonialism, most of
Tanzania was rural.
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Forces that shape

Urbanization
Determinants

of Urbanization:

internal rural to urban migration

international urban migration
reclassification
natural increase

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Impact
of
Urbanization
in
Impacts of Urbanization in MDCs
development
Positive
higher wages
More social mobility

Negative
crowding (applies to suburbs as well as
central cities now)
More violent crime
pollution (suburbanization doesnt help)
concentration of the poor in central cities
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Impacts

of Urbanization in LDCs

Positive
Lower fertility
Lower mortality
More opportunities for political participation

Negative
More sexually transmitted disease
Expansion of amenities (water, education,
sanitation) failing to keep pace with urban
growth
Relative disenfranchisement of rural residents
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G.Kimburu