Title: Causes and Effects of Urbanization | The Classroom
Headings: Causes and Effects of Urbanization
Causes and Effects of Urbanization
Economic Causes
Negative Social Effects
Negative Psychological Effects
Positive Effects
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Content: Economic Causes
Workers move to urban centers to find better economic opportunities. The Industrial Revolution and the subsequent shift from agricultural jobs to factory jobs made it profitable for companies to locate their factories in large cities with plenty of local workers. There often is a severe lack of resources in rural areas, such as medical technology, which further drives people to the cities. In developing countries, such as those in Africa, natural population increases and migration have been big factors in urbanization. People are driven out of rural poverty and into urban areas as they are less able to care for their growing families; cities offer employment, food, shelter and education. Negative Social Effects
Urbanization has many adverse effects on the structure of society as gigantic concentrations of people compete for limited resources. Rapid housing construction leads to overcrowding and slums, which experience major problems such as poverty, poor sanitation, unemployment and high crime rates. Additionally, strains on important natural resources, such as water supply, leads to higher prices and general environmental sustainability problems. Negative Psychological Effects
Urbanization makes people dependent on others for basic necessities;