Suggest two reasons for the occurrence of low-cost housing areas within cities.

Evaluate the success of one or more strategies to control rapid city growth resulting from in-migration

Reasons could include:

• migrants are often unemployed with little disposable income
• some areas suffer deprivation and are avoided by wealthy people
• authorities may build/provide social housing
• areas of older housing may be in poor condition and used as low-cost housing.

Award [1] for the identification of a valid factor that influences and [2] for further development/exemplification.

For example: In Rio de Janeiro [1], there is a large influx of migrants from smaller cities and rural areas [1] and it is impossible to provide adequate housing for all the population [1].

Rapid urban growth is a phenomenon that is present in many parts of the world, notably NICs and low-income countries. The advantages of city growth for migration include the supply of qualified workers, attractions for investors and the resulting multiplier effect. Rapid population growth may lead to scarcity of housing, employment and access to facilities.

Governments may try to limit in-migration through a variety of strategies, including quotas/work permits, the creation of new capital cities/new cities/new towns/expanded towns/greenbelts and rural development schemes. Successful strategies tend to be in cities (such as Mexico City) in which government investment or financial incentives have encouraged people to move to other areas in the country.

Others have had less success, eg despite Egypt’s new town programme, the growth of Cairo has not been reduced, and despite China’s hukou system, rapid city growth has continued. Nevertheless, in many countries, rates of urbanization are tailing off.

Good answers may recognize that in-migration is both a cause and an effect of rapid city growth, and may be seen in a positive light. It may also be seen in a negative way, and so controls are needed. Good candidates may recognize that controls can operate at a variety of scales, eg urban (limit cities to a certain size, then have new towns/cities projects), rural (keep people working in the countryside), international (control the number of overseas migrants) and national (redevelop urban areas in other parts of the country). Answers may also discuss
attempts to balance/manage city growth.

NB. Do not accept responses that look at the effects of rapid city growth or those that look at strategies to deal with rapid city growth.

At band D, expect a description of one or more strategies to control growth from rapid in-migration.

At band E, expect either a more detailed explanation of strategies to control in-migration, or a structured evaluation of the success of strategies to control rapid city growth.

For band F, expect both of these elements.

Marks should be allocated according to the markbands.