Name: Ng Ka Yin

UID: 3035279909
Compare and contrast the main characteristics of the urbanization process in the
First and Third Worlds.

Urbanization refers to the process of increase in proportion of population living in

urban area (United Nations, 2014). Urbanization takes place in both First World and
Third World countries. However, the First world and the Third world have significant
differences in political and socio-economic aspect. Countries in the First World are
capitalist countries, while countries in the Third World are usually in poverty and
depends on other countries politically and economically (Gregory & Johnston, 1999).
This essay will investigate the similarity and difference of the urbanization process in
the First and Third World.

Social Segregation
One of the similarity of urbanization pattern in the First and Third World is the
existence of social segregation. Social segregation refers to the lack of communication
between social groups and existence of barriers which hinder interaction (Aèlvarez-
Rivadulla, 2007). However, while countries in both Worlds exist such barrier,
segregation in the First and Third Worlds takes place in different form.

In the First World, social segregation takes place mainly according to income group.
There exists a phenomenon of residential segregation by income, which refers to the
fact that the affluence is separated from the underprivileged. For example, in the
United State, poor families are isolated (Burgess, 1928). According the analysis from
National Survey of America’s Family, a majority of low-income family live in places
classified as poverty areas. A barrier exists between wealthy and poor people in the
United States. This phenomenon can be explained from human ecological perspective.
The free market sorts households with similar income level by the market force.
Therefore, households with similar income level will be grouped together. The living
locations for different income groups are therefore segregated.

On the other hand, in the Third World, social segregation takes place mainly
according to ethnicity. Because of the intervention of colonial government, non-white
people are forced to live in marginal area, while white people can live in places with
better residential quality. In South Africa, the government enforced the pass laws
which prohibit black South African to travel freely within the country. A model of the
colonial-based city in South Asia suggests that a colonial-based city consists of
European town near the Central Business District and black town in slum area
(Pacione, 2009). Ethnic segregation also exists in other countries in the Third World.
It is obvious that there is a barrier between different ethnic groups and ethnic
segregation exists in different parts of the Third World.

Slum Area
Apart from social segregation, slum area also exists in both Worlds. Slum area refers
to the places without low living standard and lack of public utilities (Grogory &
Johnston, 1999). It is usually inhabited by high density of poor people. However, slum
area in the two Worlds are largely different in terms of size and people living in.

In the First World, most people in the slum area are foreigners and oversea migrants.
In addition, the size of slum area is usually not large. The Ghetto, the Black Belt and
Little Italy are some of the slum areas in America which consisting mainly of
migrants (Burgess, 1928). The concentric zone model suggest that slum areas are
located in the zone in transition immediately next to the CBD. The residential quality
in the zone in transition is poor because the encroachment of industries. The
population includes mostly immigrants and the region is called “the port of first
entry”. The members in these zone usually find ways to escape from it. According to
the data from UN-HABITAT (2006) in Figure 1, the overall proportion of population
in slum areas is 6%. The population of slum area is low comparing with developing
countries in the Third World.

Figure 1 Population of Slum Areas by Region in 2005 (UN-HABITAT, 2006)

On the contrary, in the Third World, instead of immigrants, people in the slum area are
mainly local people. Moreover, the size of slum areas is much larger than that in the
First World. For example, in favela, slum in Brazil, most of the people living in are
local Brazilian (Perlman, 2010). A model of the Latin American city proposed by
Ford (1996, as cited in Pacione, 2009) suggested that slum area is located in the zone
of peripheral squatter settlements. People living in this area are the poorest in the city
and there is nearly no infrastructure. The air quality is low as environmental polluting
industrial activities carry out in the slum area. Regarding the population of slum in
Third World, data from UN-HABITAT (2006) in Figure 1 shows that close to half of
the population in the third world lives in slum area. The proportion of population
living in slum areas in Third World is much more than that in the First World.

Formation of Urban Core

Besides, there is an urban core in both First World and Third World. They are usually
located in the city centre with highest level of commercial activities. However, the
formation of urban core in the two Worlds are different. While the urban core in the
First World usually consists of one single component only, the urban core in the Third
World consists of two significantly different parts.

In the First World, the urban core consists of a central business district (CBD) only. It
is the first and smallest zone in the concentric zone model of urban land use (Pacione,
2009). Due to the high value of land and rent in CBD, only activities with high
enough profit can locate in this area. A downtown shopping area and main offices of
financial institution can usually be found in the CBD. The CBD is the most accessible
place in the city. For example, Central, the CBD of Hong Kong, is the major transport
hub for Hong Kong. It contains different railway stations, bus stop and ferry piers
which can reach different parts of Hong Kong easily. While the urban core in the First
World consists of CBD only, the case is different in the Third World.

In the Third World, apart from the CBD, there is also a traditional market in the urban
core. It is usually located near the CBD. Unlike CBD, instead of offices for financial
institutions and exclusive shops, the traditional market usually provides food stuff and
daily necessities. In some countries, this area is known as bazaar. Burrabazar, for
example, is one of the bazaar in India. It is the largest wholesale market in India
which provides mainly textile and yarn (Subhajoy, 2008). It is located near Central
Kolkata, a central business district. The Reserve Bank of India and headquarters of
other banks are located in this region. This shows the coexistence of westernized
commercial activity and traditional market in urban core of the Third World.
Housing Quality Towards CBD
Moreover, there is a gradual change of housing quality towards the CBD in both the
First World and the Third World. The housing quality is not the same everywhere in
the urban area. Although the gradual change can be found in both World, the direction
of change is opposite in the two Worlds.

In the First World, the housing quality declines towards the CBD. According to the
concentric zone model of urban land use (Figure 2), a city can be divided into five
zones. The innermost zone is the CBD and immediate next to it is the zone in
transition where the housing quality is the worse. Extending outward from the inner
city, the housing quality is better (Pacione, 2009). It is because only the affluence can
afford the transportation cost as they live in outer part of the city. The poor, in retrun,
can only live in the zone in transition in inner city. Chicago in 1920s is a typical
example of city following this pattern. However, the pattern in the Third World does
not follow in the same way.

Figure 2 Burgess’s Concentric Zone Model

However, in the Third World, the housing quality improves towards the CBD. The
model of the bazaar-based city in South Asia (Brunn & Williams, 1983) (Figure 3)
contains several concentric zones. However, the context of these zones are different
from that in the First World. The area beyond the inner core is mainly for the rich.
Beyond this zone is the mixed residential area, where both the rich and the poor can
be found in this zone. The outer part is the slum area for the poor. In this area, the
price and the demand for land are low. This model indicates that the housing quality
improves towards the city centre.
Figure 3 Bazaar-based City in South Asia (Brunn & Williams, 1983)

Rural and Urban Difference

Apart from the trend of housing quality, the First and Third World different in terms
of the distinction of rural and urban area. While there is a clear cut of rural and urban
are in the First World, the difference is difficult to identify in the Third World.

In the First World, rural and urban difference can be

easily identified. The trade-off model (Figure 4)
shows the relationship between land rent and
accessibility. Under free market, since the demand
for accessible place is higher, the rent is higher
(Pacione, 2009). Some land uses are ready to pay
higher rent in city centre because accessibility is
important for these land uses. This trade-off model
determines the land-use pattern in a city. As retail
activities place great importance on accessibility,
they are located at the city centre. On the other
hand, as accessibility is not important for
agricultural land use, they are located at outer part
of the city. As a result, rural and urban difference is
significant in the First World.
Figure 4 Trade-off model of Urban Land Use

In the Third World, rural and urban difference is difficult to be identified because of
the existence of Desakota. Desakota is the land uses with a mix of rural and urban
characteristic (McGee, 1991). Desakota is formed when urban influence is spread into
the countryside surrounding. Commercialized agricultural activities can be found in
these area. Moreover, the population density is usually high in Desakota. Desakota
can usually be found in Southeast Asian Developing Countries. It can strengthen the
linkage between rural and urban area. As it is a mix of urban and rural area, urban-
rural distinction is blurred as a result.

Force Driving Urbanization

In both the First and Third World, industrialization is usually an essential step for
urbanization. However, the driving force is different in the two Worlds. While
urbanization is self-driven in the First World, the process is driven by external force in
the Third World.

In the First World, the urbanization process is self-driven. The Industrial Revolution
took place in mid-18th century in Britain. When a factory is set up in the region,
demand for jobs increase. A large amount of job opportunities is created as a result.
This leads to economic growth and increases the demands of housing in the region.
Transports is improved and the places in this region become accessible. An urban area
is established as a result (Ailin, 2004). When people move into the urban area, the
proportion of population living in urban area increase, leading to urbanization. The
whole process is self-driven without external force involved.

On the contrary ,in the Third World, the urbanization process is driven by external
forces.

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