Case Study: Rapid Urbanisation in Mexico City

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Inequality in Mexico City

Mexico has one of the highest rates of inequality in the world. There are a number of reasons for this inequality.

Background

Mexico has one of the highest rates of inequality according to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development.
The richest 1% of the population own almost half of the country’s wealth.
Oxfam Mexico states that:
- “While the wealth of Mexican multimillionaires is multiplied by five in 10 years, 48% of state schools have no access to sewerage, 31% have no drinking water, 12.8% have no bathrooms or toilets and 11.2% have no access to electricity.”

Migration

The government were not prepared for so many rural migrants so settlements were built in an unordered fashion.
Many areas were settled almost overnight, so basic services like electricity, water, social services and security wouldn't be available.

Income variation

Many people work long hours for very little money due to lack of government legislation on wages.
This means people do not get paid fairly for the work they do, resulting in poverty for many.

Corruption

Government corruption means that although the country has a high GDP, many people lack basic services like education and healthcare.

Other Impacts of Rapid Urbanisation in Mexico City

Rapid urbanisation has created a number of social and environmental challenges.

Water supply

Rising population puts enormous pressure on an already struggling water supply.
This means water has to be pumped from reservoirs to the west of the city.
The remaining 70% of the city’s water supply comes from wells sunk deep into the underground aquifers, which are running dry.
The fact that Mexico City is 2,250m above sea level makes this particularly difficult.
As these underground aquifers are emptied, land sinks and buildings, power lines and sewage pipes are broken.

Housing

Like other rapidly growing cities, Mexico City grew so fast that the government could not keep up with the services and housing to support the population.
This caused the city to spread outward and many houses were made quickly without the proper foundations, hence the sprawling slums, called barrios, surrounding the city.
These barrios lack access to fresh water, do not have proper sewage necessities, and in many areas do not have electricity.
This contributes to an unhealthy population as well as damage to the environment.

Informal employment

Informal employment is a persistent problem in Mexico City.
Despite economic growth, there are still 13 million workers holding informal jobs, deprived of social protection and labour rights.
With no regular income, they are often forced to work many hours in difficult conditions.
One example is ‘rag picking’. This is when people pick through waste dumps in search for things they can reuse, sell or make things from. It is unsanitary and dangerous work that many people feel no other option but to do.

Environmental impacts

Rapid urban growth causes a number of environmental impacts.
Inadequate sewerage facilities lead to polluted water.
Unregulated growth leads to housing being built in environmentally sensitive areas.
A lack of gas or electricity leads to intensive cooking with wood fires, something that seriously compromises air quality.
Transport and industry have both increased, considerably contributing to environmental issues. This has a knock on effect on the health of people living in Mexico City.

1Physical Geography

1.1River Environments

1.1.1Weathering

1.1.2Mass Movement

1.1.3Erosion

1.1.4Transportation

1.1.5Deposition

1.1.6River Landforms: Waterfalls & Gorges

1.1.7River Landforms: Interlocking Spurs

1.1.8River Landforms: Flood Plains

1.1.9River Landforms: Point Bars

1.1.10River Landforms: Levees

1.1.11River Landforms: Meanders

1.1.12River Landforms: Oxbow Lakes

1.1.13River Landscape Changes: Long Profile

1.1.14River Landscape Changes: Cross Profile

1.1.15Vertical & Lateral Erosion

1.1.16Flood Risk Factors

1.1.17Human Activities on Rivers

1.1.18River Management: Hard Engineering

1.1.19River Management: Soft Engineering

1.1.20Case Study: The River Eden - Landforms

1.1.21Case Study: The River Eden - Climate

1.1.22Case Study: The River Eden - Geology

1.1.23Case Study: The River Eden - Management

1.1.24Case Study: The River Eden - Human Activity

1.1.25End of Topic Test - River Environments

1.2Coastal Environments

1.3Hazardous Environments - Tropical Cyclones

1.3.1Characteristics of a Tropical Cyclone

1.3.2Structure of a Tropical Cyclone

1.3.3Physical Hazards of Tropical Cyclones

1.3.4The Impacts of Tropical Cyclones

1.3.5Responses to Tropical Cyclones

1.3.6Vulnerability to Tropical Cyclones

1.3.7Preparing for Tropical Cyclones

1.3.8Case Study: Katrina

1.3.9Case Study: Nargis

1.4Hazardous Environments - Earthquakes & Volcanoes

1.4.1Earthquakes

1.4.2Features of an Earthquake

1.4.3Types of Earthquake

1.4.4Case Study: L'Aquila

1.4.5Case Study: Chile

1.4.6Case Study: Japan & Pakistan - Planning

1.4.7Volcanoes

1.4.8Types of Volcanoes

1.4.9Volcanic Eruptions

2Human Geography

2.1Economic Activity & Energy

2.1.1Increasing Energy Consumption

2.1.2Non-Renewable Energy - Nuclear

2.1.3Non-Renewable Energy - Fossil Fuels

2.1.4Renewable Energy - Solar

2.1.5Renewable Energy - Water & Bio

2.1.6Renewable Energy - Hydro

2.1.7Energy - Statistical Skills

2.2Rural Environments

2.2.1Rainforests

2.2.2Temperate Forests

2.2.3Characteristics of a Temperate Forest

2.2.4Goods & Services in Temperate Forests

2.2.5Deserts

2.2.6Tundra

2.3Urban Environments

2.3.1Urbanisation in Different Countries

2.3.2Causes of Urbanisation

2.3.3Consequences of Urbanisation

2.3.4Sustainable Urbanisation

2.3.5Case Study: Rapid Urbanisation in Mexico City

2.3.6End of Topic Test - Urbanisation

3Global Issues

3.1Fragile Environments & Climate Change

3.1.1Natural Causes of Climate Change

3.1.2Effects of Climate Change on the Environment

3.1.3Effects of Climate Change on People

3.1.4Impacts of Deforestation

3.1.5End of Topic Test - Climate Change

3.1.6Increasing Water Supply

3.1.7Sustainable Rainforest Management

3.2Globalisation & Migration

3.2.1Globalisation - Transport

3.2.2Globalisation - Communication Networks & Banking

3.2.3Push & Pull Factors

3.2.4TNCs & Globalisation

3.2.5Tourism Landscapes

3.2.6The Growth of Tourism

3.2.7The Economic Benefits of Tourism

3.2.8The Social & Cultural Benefits of Tourism

3.2.9The Economic Costs of Tourism

3.2.10The Social & Cultural Costs of Tourism

3.2.11Managing Tourism - Sustainability

3.2.12Managing Tourism - Quotas & Tourism Hubs

3.3Development & Human Welfare

3.3.1Ways of Defining Development

3.3.2Different Ways of Measuring Development

3.3.3Environmental Factors Causing Uneven Development

3.3.4Historical Factors Causing Uneven Development

3.3.5Economic Factors Causing Uneven Development

3.3.6Patterns of Development

3.3.7How Can we Reduce the Global Development Gap?

3.3.8Top-Down & Bottom-Up Development

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