September 25, 2013
Lesson on: Urban changes - MEDCs
Key terms
Demography – The study of human populations and how
it changes.
Key questions:
1. How are urban areas in MEDCs changing?
2. To what extent is urban change in MEDCs
positive?
Dwight Sutherland 2012
Lichfield over the years
1610
1900
2000 Starter TASK: Describe the urban changes
to Lichfield between 1900 and 2000.
Dwight Sutherland 2013
Lichfield over the years
1610
1900
2000 Starter TASK: Describe the urban changes
to Lichfield between 1900 and 2000.
Urban areas change by:
• growing eg. Shanghai
• declining eg. Sheffield
• changing functions eg. Birmingham change
from an industrial city to a service sector city
• their layout eg. From Linear to nucleated
Dwight Sutherland 2013
FACT FINDING TASK: Read through the Birmingham case study in
the textbook. Do your own case study on urban changes in MEDCs
using Birmingham as an example. See example below.
Case study: Urban changes in Birmingham (MEDC
city)
• Location: (Where is this place exactly?)
• Key facts: (Population, main businesses etc)
• Main changes since the 1950s and reasons for
them: (How has the city changed environmentally,
culturally, economically and even politically?)
Dwight Sutherland 2013
(Optional) FACT FINDING TASK: Read through the Birmingham case
study in the textbook. Do your own case study on urban changes in
MEDCs using Birmingham as an example. See example below.
Case study: Urban changes in Birmingham (MEDC city)
• Location: (Where is this place exactly?)
• Main changes since the 1950s: (How has the city changed?)
• Causes of those changes:(Why did the city change?)
• Impact of those changes: (What are the consequences of
those changes?)
• Management of those changes: (What is being done to deal
with those changes?)
Dwight Sutherland 2013
Main changes to Birmingham
• One change to Birmingham over the last
50 years is an increase in immigrant
population. 47% of Birmingham’s
population is made up of ethic groups. The
reason for this change is that after WW2
immigrants were encouraged to come to
Birmingham to help rebuild the city. Since
then other immigrants have come to be
with families and to find jobs. This is a
cultural change.
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Fact check: List one change to
Birmingham that is:
• Social
• Demographic
• Economic
• Environmental
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Progress check TASK: Circle the causes of urban
changes below in MEDCs like Birmingham.
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Counter-urbanisation
Industrialisation
Rural-urban migration
Global shift of industries to LEDCs
Urban-rural migration
Growth of informal housing, businesses
Urban decay
International migration
Increase social segregation
Urban gentrification
Sub-urbanisation
De-industrialisation
Increase rates of urbanisation and suburbanisation
Urban renewal/redevelopment
Dwight Sutherland 2013
TASK: In pairs discuss then the match the management strategy to
effects of urban changes in Birmingham.
MANAGEMENT STRATEGY BEING USED IN
BIRMINGHAM
EFFECT(s) BEING TARGETTED
Investment in tertiary industries like Bull Ring
shopping centre and Birmingham tourism.
Council invest in redevelopment schemes such as
new apartments in the city centre.
Council offer cheap rental spaces for businesses.
Council improve the quality of social housing in
the city.
The growth of Birmingham population leads to a
need for overcrowding of houses in the city.
Council funds and develops cultural programmes in
the city (cricket matches between different groups
in the city).
Council invest in social programmes like education,
community policing.
Other:
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Group discussion TASK: Discuss how effective the strategies
being used in Birmingham are to address the changes.
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Summary of key points
URBAN CHANGES IN
MEDCs
Counter-urbanisation
Sub-urbanisation
Urban decay
Urban gentrification
Urban renewal/redevelopment
Dwight Sutherland 2013