GGRA03H3 Study Guide - Final Guide: Smart Growth, Sustainable Transport, District Heating
Document Summary
Current un definition of megacity is a city with population over 10 million. There is an increase in number of megacities each decade. Megacities has for 9% of world urban population and are responsible for 15% of global. Megacities are a qualitatively different urban form, not just bigger - for 5 main reasons: pollution, congestion, economy, land values and housing, governance. Over a certain size a range of diseconomies of scale would become dominant and would increase costs and reduce efficiency. Diseconomies of scale - costs increase as population growth increases (congestion, pollution, long travel times, high land costs) Diseconomies of scale mostly cost individuals while economies of scale mostly benefit firms. Extensive patterns of growth (sprawl) near megacities. Political fragmentation it is difficult to coordinate between jurisdictions o: growth moves past municipal boundaries to rural municipalities with weak governance and planning capacity. Key concept: political fragmentation, social segregation and economic inqeuality are common challenges facing some megacities.
