Urban areas are complex places which are constantly in a state of change. They are also steeped in history and often give evidence of how people were living at a particular time.

Why do people move into the city (in MEDCs) and how has the city has changed as a result?

In recent years a number of urban planning schemes have been developed in order to help to regenerate the different aspects of the inner city in MEDCs.

Urban growth in LEDCs can cause problems due to shanty towns, waste, pollution and poor infrastructure. Learn about the characteristics of shanty towns and the issues they cause.