Living and working in large cities, we do not even think about the formation, role and significance of the structure in which we are. Nevertheless, an increase in the share of the urban population is one of the key socio-economic phenomena. It is important to know what urbanization is. This knowledge in the context of globalization is almost key for every person.
Urbanization is understood to mean the growth of cities, an increase in their role in the development of society, the formation of complex systems and networks of cities. The territorial division of labor, the development of political and cultural functions, and the concentration of industry are prerequisites for the growth of agglomerations. The urban process is characterized by the formation of megalopolises, as well as an increase in the concentration of people in large settlements, an influx of people from rural areas, and an increase in pendulum migration.
Having understood what urbanization is, you need to be able to highlight its features that are characteristic of most countries:
- accelerated urban population growth, spontaneous, uncontrolled rural migration;
-
the concentration of economic sectors in large settlements;
- the formation of urban agglomerations due to the emergence of belts or satellite towns around capitals, ports, industrial centers.
The main stages of urbanization are:
- independent growth of settlements, the accumulation of their potential, the development of planning and functional structure, the emergence of large-scale problems;
- the formation of a key form of territorial organization - agglomeration, which plays a major role in developed and developing countries and helps to solve problems;
- the formation of a supporting framework that guides the development of the economy.
Having found out what urbanization is, we will look at the situation in the modern world and, in particular, in our country. What are the main features of this phenomenon today? The modern process of urbanization is characterized, first of all, by the deterioration of the urban environment. The crowded population, chaotic development, outdated technology of industrial enterprises strongly affect the environment and human health. In developing countries, a number of crises (famine, population explosion and others) have a detrimental effect on living standards.
For comparison, Canada's urbanization rate is over 80%, and this indicator tends to grow rapidly. So, by 2015, according to experts, it will reach almost 86%.
Despite the fact that the country has a large number of large cities, the emphasis is on agriculture and oil production. Based on what urbanization is, we can safely conclude that the city structure includes services, trade, construction, and finance. The Institute of City Economics developed 3 scenarios for the development of settlements in our country. Which way to go, only time will tell.
Scientists agree that there is a decrease in livelihood resources, and this trend is especially characteristic of large cities. This, in turn, negatively affects people's health.
