Consequences of Megacity Growth

Megacity Opportunities/Challenges
• Growth creates many employment opportunities for migrants and existing residents
• Also brings social, environmental consequences

Mumbai, India
• Now 21+ million people
• Doubled since 1970
• Many migrants from rural areas
• City includes many TNCs offering employment opportunities
• 50+% of city’s population live in slums
• Rising land prices create pressure to redevelop slum areas

Karachi, Pakistan
• Now 24+ million people
• Top-5 largest world cities
• Previously capital
• Center of finance/trade/industry
• Jobs lure migrants from rural areas
• Migrants find jobs in variety of sectors (shipping, banking, retail, manufacturing)

Sustainable Megacity Management

Top-Down Approaches to Sustainable Megacities
• (Based on government planning)
• Creation of Special Economic Zones (SEZs)
• Low-tax areas to attract business and industry
• Creates jobs
• Working well in Jakarta and Shenzhen
• Downside: can cause traffic, pollution, etc.
• Urban planning and housing projects
• Popular in China

Bottom-Up Approaches to Sustainable Megacities

• (Where government planning and resources are lacking)
• People create squatter/informal settlements in absence of formal housing
• Economies often based on informal activities, e.g. fishing, collecting trash, etc.
Ex: Makoko - Lagos, Nigeria