Urban problems are the same the world over and require the same solution to what extent do you agree with this view

Urban problems are the same the world over and require the same solution to what extent do you agree with this view

All Urban areas have problems, which can all be sorted into the categories economic, social, and environmental. These problems are faced by all urban areas all over the world, in both MEDC’s and LEDC’s. however the problems can seem larger in certain parts of the world such as LEDC’s as they are poorer and les able to deal with the problems, while in countries such as England we have the capability to deal with the problems making them seem smaller when they are actually very similar to those faced in other countries.
Mumbai is a mega city on the west coast of India, it has had huge problems in urban areas due to the fact it has experienced rapid urbanisation. As a result it has been subject to a whole host of social problems. In 2011 the population was 12.5 million. Due to the problems in the area more than half of that population live in poverty in slums, which cover huge sectors of the area. The Dharavi slum is a great example of over cramming of members of the population in small areas of space. They are known as the Dharavi Slums.
Although it doesn’t seem the same, we suffer from similar problems here in the UK. Not to the extent that they do in India however the problems are very similar, poorer members of populations are also forced into lower quality housing which is often overcrowded as the Dharavi slums are. Hulme in Manchester is an Urban area that used to have this problem. In the mid-19th century the housing was overcrowded, the living conditions were poor and there were very few facilities.
So the problems are similar between the countries however it is only in the scale of the problems in which they differ. In Mumbai you are not able to solve your problems as easy as you can here, they are forced to live in these slums as they have no other option they aren’t able to rent or borrow, they have to make do with what they have. While here we are more economically developed so poorer people can still afford housing, even if considered low quality here, it is better then the conditions of the slums. The solution to these problems is not the same however. It could possibly be the same if both countries were of the same economic standing however the difference in economy does cause the solution to the problems to be different.
In Mumbai the only way that families can solve their social problems such as homes, facilities etc. is to either work in poorly paid jobs until they are able to afford better housing or to hope that management by the government is done. Dharavi for example went under a redevelopment project which included building new apartments, and improving infrastructure. While as here in the UK we are able to use our wealth to redevelop areas at greater expense. Hulme for example had a new £37.5 million regeneration package to redevelop the area.
Mumbai also has a significant set of environmental problems, especially pollution. An increasing population means more waste produced, so when a population increases in an overcrowded space then the waste produced is a lot more. This causes problems e.g. in the eastern neighbourhood of Chembur waste produced is burnt on an open dump, which causes air pollution. Between 2007 and 2008 25% of deaths were caused by respiratory problems.
While environmental problems in Mumbai were due to high populations and waste, the environmental problems we have in the UK are actually more along the lines of land becoming derelict, abandoned and becoming considered as an ‘ugly’ landscape. Again when compared to the problems being faced in Mumbai our problems are less serious, yet again though we are able to deal with ours easier as we have a better economy. This is shown by the fact when the slums of Mumbai wanted to reduce waste they had to be helped by Non-Governmental Organisations to build 330 new communal toilets, while when Hulme was left derelict and abandoned we splashed £37.5 million to regenerate the whole area.
So environmentally urban problems can’t be said to be the same the world over as they differ in MEDC in which they are more focused on abandoned, run down areas. While in LEDC’s they are more along the lines of overpopulated areas and pollution.
Economic problems you would think would have the biggest difference between urban areas in LEDC’s and MEDC’s due to the difference in economy of the countries. However the main problem in certain areas is the same. That is unemployment.
In Mumbai most of the population living in slums are poor. A total 23% of the Mumbai population are unemployed, which is huge considering we in the UK are in panic when ours reaches above 6%. This means that the poorest families are unable to find work, preventing them from coming into any wealth which in turn prevents them from leaving their slum housing for better living conditions.
Hulme in Manchester also struggles with unemployment and poverty. In 1989 unemployment was at 32% which is huge. It has since reduced to 6% in 2010. Although this is considerably less than in Mumbai, it is still one of the highest unemployment rates in Manchester. Not only is unemployment a problem but 47.5% of the population of the area are living in social housing. This is less a problem for them but more of one for the councils who are paying for the occupiers to live in the house. Large amounts of social housing can cause strain on local councils who are low in money.
Overall I think that there are definitely similarities between problems faced in urban areas in MEDC’s and LEDC’s, however I don’t believe there is sufficient evidence to say they are the same the world over. I also strongly disagree that they require the same solution, as I believe that where the area in in the world, the economy of the country it is located in and its government have a huge impact on how its problems could be solved.