THE SYLLABUS SAYS: EXAMINE THE OTHER SYMPTOMS OF URBAN STRESS INCLUDING ... POOR QUALITY HOUSING, SOCIAL DEPRIVATION, CRIME AND INEQUALITY.
Inequality
It should be noted that inequality runs through all the other elements of 'human' social stresses. However, it is important to understand the concept of inequality. It can be shown through the Gini coefficient.
It should be noted that inequality runs through all the other elements of 'human' social stresses. However, it is important to understand the concept of inequality. It can be shown through the Gini coefficient.
Housing
Housing can be identified as belonging to four main issues:
- quality of housing, including the provision of utilities such as water, sewerage and electricity
- quantity of housing
- affordability
- housing tenure (method of owning or renting accommdoation)
The issue of tenure is especially probelmatic for poorer countries where people are unlikely to modify their self-built housing if they face risk of eviction.
Social deprivation
This refers to:
- a lack of access to services
- crime issues
- social breakdown between ethnic groups
- economic polarization (the gap between rich and poor getting wider)
Crime
The causes of crime
Crime is caused by many factors which tend to be more significant in urban areas:
- inequality - the increasing gap between rich and poor leads to a 'them and us' situation in which it becomes more acceptable to commit crime against people who are perceived to have plenty
- unemployment - young people without work are more likely to be involved in criminal activity
- lack of police - because urbanisation has occurred so fast in many areas, the police service is unable to keep up with the growth leading to inadequate policing of cities
- opportunity - there is a greater concentration of potential victims in densely populated urban areas, with a reduced risk of getting caught
- poor urban planning - unlit, quiet areas can become crime hotspots. This can even include areas which are busy and safe during the day
- ICT - better access to the internet has ensured organised crime is more efficient
Consequences of crime
- the reputation of the city is damaged, resulting in less inward investment and tourism
- fear of crime increases, even if incidents of crime do not
- higher income groups move away from areas of crime, adding to the lack of social mixing and social cohesion
- gated communities develop, where private security is employed to 'protect' the inhabitants (in Hong Kong, the equivalent of this is the modern housing development with 24 hour door staff)
- international criminal organisations are attracted to the looser security of cities where crime is high