Key definitions
Shanty town — Unplanned, often illegal, self-built areas of housing using basic materials with few services.
Informal economy — Activities, enterprises and jobs where workers are not regulated, not taxed by the state and are not protected.
Causes and effects of urban growth
| Causes | Effects |
|---|---|
| Migration due to push and pull factors | Congestion |
| Better healthcare | Lack of housing |
| Better transport | Inflation in prices |
| More job opportunities | Shortages in food and water |
| Relatives and friends | Increased poverty |
| Climate | |
| Fertile and flat land |
Case study: Dharavi — a rapidly growing urban area in a developing country
Since 1971, the population of Mumbai has risen from 8 million in 1971 to 21 million now.
- Children play amongst sewage, causing many cases of typhoid and diphtheria daily
- Estimated 1 million population
- 870,000 people per square mile (population density)
- Water pipes come on at 5:30 am for 2 hours; water is rationed
- 500 people share a public latrine
- Water pipes crack and take in sewage
- Monsoon season can cause flooding
Dharavi: threats and advantages
| Threats | Advantages |
|---|---|
| The land Dharavi is on is worth $10 billion USD, which Mumbai plans to sell | 85% of people are employed either in the slums or locally |
| A $2 billion redevelopment project threatens the recycling district and parts of Dharavi | 80% of plastic is recycled |
| The community is tight-knit and friendly |
Features of squatter settlements
- Lack of access to services
- Poor infrastructure
- Lack of legal protection
- Informal economy
- Lack of sanitation
- High crime rate