Economic
- Cities attract people from rural areasbecause they offer more job opportunities, and jobs are often better paid.
- As the urban population increases, businesses,such as factories and shops, grow in size and become more profitable. This leads to more jobs and wage rises.
- As countries develop, commercial farmingovertakes subsistence farming as the primary method of food production. The decline in agricultural jobs drives even more people into towns and
Social
- Cities tend to have higher living standardsthan rural areas such as better access to healthcare and education, which attracts people.
- As more people move to a city and the economy grows, it can become a centrefor cultural expression including museums and art galleries
- The migrationof people into urban areas increases the mix of people from different social backgrounds. This can make people more tolerant of others, creating a welcoming environment that attracts more migrants.
- However, segregationof people from different social backgrounds is also common.
Technological
- With the emergence of factoriesin cities, urban areas become hotspots for technological advancement, in the 19th century Manchester became the first industrialised city in the world and was branded ‘Cottonopolis’ because of its cotton-processing factories.
- More recently, areas with a large number of high-tech industrieshave emerged, such as Silicon Valley in California. These areas attract people because they offer specialisedand highly paid jobs.
Political
- Urban growth may lead to increased inequalitiesbetween rich and poor people. A new ‘working class’ emerges, often made up of people who work in manufacturing industries.
- New political movementsemerge to represent the ‘working class’ Political reform focuses on issues that affect urban life, e.g. poor sanitation, quality of housing, working conditions in factories.
Demographic
- As citiesbecome larger and wealthier, they attract migrants from all over the world. Urban areas become more culturally, and ethnically diverse and new areas emerge such as Chinatown in New York City.
- Many young peopleare attracted by jobs and They often choose to stay and raise families in the city, so cities tend to have a younger population than rural areas.