Third World Urbanization: Dimensions, Theories, and Determinants

Abstract

"Few aspects of international social change have generated as much scholarship as patterns of urbanization in the Third World. In this review of interdisciplinary research, we first trace the trends and dimensions of urbanization in developing countries and then discuss major theories guiding global urban studies. Second, we review and critique recent cross-national investigations of the determinants of urbanization and its dimensions, concluding that severe underspecification, the dearth of comparative statistics on critical dimensions, and the ambiguity of proxy variables hinder research in this area. Finally, we discuss issues that warrant additional investigation in the near future."

The Rapid Urban Growth Triad: A New Conceptual Framework for Examining the Urban Transition in Developing Countries

“…Similarly, a number of scholars have noted that in general, the causes of the urban transition have received limited attention, with most studies taking for granted that this phenomenon is already underway [14,44,45]. Consequently, many tend to make the common mistake of assuming that the urban transition is a ubiquitous process, driven solely by rural to urban migration [3,5,9,45]. The neglect of the causes of urbanization and the contributions of the changing components of urban growth (namely, urban natural increase and reclassification) has come to represents a lacuna in the urban studies discourse.…”

“…The former of which refers to the increase in the absolute number of people living in urban areas, whereas the latter refers to the increase in the proportion (or share) of the population that is urban rather than rural [1][2][3]. Both of these processes are underpinned by what the United Nations refers to as the components of urban growth: rural to urban migration, urban natural population increase and reclassification of rural areas as urban [4][5][6][7][8][9]. It is worth noting that although urbanization and urban growth often occur simultaneously, it is possible for urban growth to occur without urbanization [4,10].…”

Quantifying the urban environment: A scale measure of urbanicity outperforms the urban–rural dichotomy

“…In the past, urban and rural environments were clearly different, but modern "rural" areas are now experiencing factors traditionally associated with the urban environment and the result is "increased blurring of urban-rural distinctions" (Champion & Hugo, 2004). Additionally, patterns of urbanization vary between regions (Kasarda & Crenshaw, 1991), resulting in equally varied settlement types and a great deal of heterogeneity among urban areas across the globe and even within countries (Champion & Hugo, 2004). The importance of this heterogeneity is not lost on urban health researchers, many of whom have called for more intra-and inter-urban health research (McDade & Adair, 2001;Vlahov & Galea, 2002;Wharton, 2002;Yach et al, 1990).…”

An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of Nigeria’s Rapid Urban Transition

“…Firstly, it is necessary to distinguish between the processes of urbanization and urban growth; the former of which refers to the proportion of the population living in urban areas as opposed to rural areas, and the latter referring to the absolute number of people living in urban areas (Davis 1965;Fox 2011). Secondly, both urbanization and urban growth are underpinned by what the United Nations refers to as the components of urban growth: namely, rural to urban migration, urban natural population increase, and reclassification of rural areas as urban (Kasarda and Crenshaw 1991;Chen and Valente 1998;United Nations 2001). Finally, although urbanization and urban growth occur hand in hand, there are certain circumstances in which urban growth can occur without urbanization.…”