1. Introduction
With the accelerating pace of urbanization and economic development, many countries have witnessed meaningful changes in their urban landscape and socio-economic structure. As it can be said, urbanization plays one of the most critical effects on sustainable economic development and social well-being. In this essay, it will explore the interaction between economic development. Firstly, the government should announce urbanization planning, which measures the standard of living, education, and healthcare. Urbanization is not only beneficial to economic growth, but it has also potential environmental problems. Finally, it will describe the sustainability of urbanization, which involves transforming the economy and how to retain talent.
2. Policy’s improvement
Figure 1: This picture talks about a share of the urban population in the total population. (http://down.aefweb.net/AefArticles/aef040203.pdf)
According to figure 1 (a), the proportion share of the population in developing countries has always been the highest globally. The consumption of the Middle East experienced a significant increase, from 0.7 population share in 1995. The Middle East exceeded the Soviet Bloc in 1970. After that, The Middle East overtook Latin America in 1980. Then the World Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa are kept stable climb. But Sub-Saharan Africa is the lowest with 0.32 population share in 1995. Similarly, the Asia population share reached its highest point of 0.34 population share in 1995.
According to the figure 1 (b), the population share of Developed countries also remains steady at maximum. The consumption of developed countries increased to 0.75 population share in 1995. However, the difference is that Latin America has a sharp growth from 0.73 in 1995, located second. The third is the Soviet Bloc, which soared from 1960 to 1985. But in 1990, there was a dramatic decrease of about 0.3 in population share. Similar to the world, Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa are keeping a stable climb. The World is higher than anchor Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa. Asia overtook Sub-Saharan Africa in 1970.
To sum up, with the development of cities, more and more people leave the countryside and enter the city.
The government should improve the mechanism perfection, including the whole planning of the urbanization. In other words, economic development is initially dimensioned by the improvement in standards of living, job opportunities, and access to education and healthcare. First, the government should enhance the transportation system, which significantly affects living standards [1].
For example, in Beijing, subway Line 1 was built in 1969. Today, Beijing has 27 subways that are almost all over Beijing. Many workers and students take the subway every morning and evening, which is less congested than the road. At the same time, public transportation also provides convenience for the elderly. Their travel no longer depends on walking; they can choose bus or subway. Public transportation is all over Beijing, providing more choices for people to travel [2].
The government also needs to set up some policies in favor of high-tech industries. Maybe reduce tax rates, lower rents, and so on. Also, the government needs to hold regular exhibitions about these high-tech industries. That can improve the opportunities for business exchanges. Also, the government set up some high prices and complete laws to stimulate the development of enterprises to protect research [3].
Third, in developing countries, governments must choose some cities close to trade ports to start urbanization early. This needs to be matched by the previous reduction in tax rates. At the same time, it is also necessary to join some international trade organizations, such as the WTO, to determine the city's primary development goals from the natural conditions of the national geographical environment [4].
The government could enact policies that attract more companies to invest and build factories. When the city has more companies, it leads to more job opportunities.
For example, China's first special economic zone was established in Shenzhen. In the development process, Shenzhen has gradually transitioned from traditional to high-tech industries, developing the tertiary sectors, including tourism and service industries, and promoting the optimization and upgrading of economic structure [5].
With the development of urbanization, there has been an essential shift in the distribution of the population toward urban areas. This trend profoundly impacts various aspects of society's problems, including the education system. If the government wants to retain and develop talent, it must perfect the technology. First, the country needs to build some universities. In China, the student will choose the university after the college entrance examination. If this country has lots of great universities, they will come here to study, and it is possible to stay here to build a city. Additionally, the government needs to make a complete education system. To construct some university that can attract talent. This people can improve and develop the technology. Also, they need to marry and have children. So, the government needs to build a kindergarten, middle, and high school. That will attract more talent [6].
3. Negative impact of urbanization
However, it is worth noting that economic development and urbanization are not positively related. Although urbanization can push economic growth, unreasonable urbanization has caused different social and environmental issues. On the one hand, one of the most significant influences of urbanization is the loss of natural habitats and wildlife. For example, in some places, forests and the environment are being destroyed because of our overexploitation of cities. Like the Yangtze River paddlefish that went extinct some time ago. As there are many factories around the Yangtze River, they will dump wastewater into the river and pollute the water source. At the same time, to develop the economy, many places cut down forests and destroy the environment. For example, the wetlands in Northeast China are used to grow crops, which causes the habitat of some birds to disappear. At the same time, rural areas also need to develop education. They also need people to teach them how to use high-end machines to analyze local planting problems, and at the same time, they can explore local plant crops suitable for cultivation to be more productive. At the same time, it is also necessary to take precautions against some natural disasters, such as floods, the construction of some reservoirs, and the development of water-saving agriculture in some arid areas, which need to be analyzed first and require the help of large cities [7]. Targeted analysis of different regions and proposed targeted solutions are mutually beneficial and win.
On the other hand, urbanization could directly lead to climate change due to carbon emissions from transportation and industry. Due to the rise of our industrial level, we use such energy as coal, oil, and natural gas. Although these improve our productivity, they pollute the environment [8]. For example, just like the United Kingdom, which has just experienced the second Industrial Revolution, we can see the blue sky with thick smoke everywhere. Industries often emit large amounts of atmospheric pollutants, such as sulfur dioxide, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, and particulate matter. This consequence can contribute to health issues in humans and animals, as well as environmental problems like acid rain and climate change. In China, when developing heavy industry, we can also see all kinds of garbage discharged and polluted rivers. In this way, although the economy has been increased, our living environment has been destroyed [9].
Moreover, many ways can be taken to mitigate the negative impact of urbanization on the environment. In other words, the government should set up reasonable city planning and pay more attention to green architecture and sustainable transportation. To encourage the development of environmental protection industries, the people will be awakened by ecological protection awareness.
For example, governments of nations worldwide must tighten the administration and impose a more stringent environment. In China, to create a “Green Great Wall” shelter belt of trees to protect Beijing from sandstorms, and international treaties to protect biological diversity and the ozonosphere [10].
Nevertheless, the government should create more green spaces in the urbanization plans. Parks and gardens can absorb carbon dioxide and provide habitats for wildlife. Meanwhile, it will directly change the air quality, reduce stress, and offer recreation spaces to city residents [11]. Some people who live in cities want to be close to nature on holidays or weekends, and they may also want to travel with their children, so if such an area is nearby, it can relieve their stress. Let them adjust so they can prepare for the rest of the work. At this time, some rural areas around big cities can develop resorts and hotels to increase the income of residents and formulate tertiary industries at the same time. In this way, it can not only meet the needs of urban people but also increase local income, expand the influence of cities with high urbanization rates on surrounding areas, and drive local people to become rich together. And increase forecast cover, restore sea grasses, and boost the use of agricultural cover crops to reduce the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. In China, more and more green roofs appear in the city that conserve energy and water waste. Energy-efficient buildings and green roofs can help reduce carbon emissions and lower utility costs. Water-saving fixtures and rainwater harvesting systems can help conserve this precious resource.
The development of urbanization is based on the purpose of sustainability. At this moment, more and more people have migrated to the city, and the need for skilled people has become crucially important. The city has always been the center of economic growth and innovation, appealing to people from rural to seek better opportunities and living standards. However, the municipality invisibly caused the excessive concentration of the population, putting pressure on the existing infrastructure and resources. In this way, the cultural level of the whole city can be boosted [12].
Vocational education is an important foundation for training skilled technicians, boosting employment and entrepreneurship, and upgrading the manufacturing and revives sectors in the World [13]. Therefore, the development of vocational holds significant for the resolution of problems in the employment structure and the acute shortage of skilled workers as well.
With the squint towards a knowledge-based economy, cities are also undergoing an economic transformation. The traditional manufacturing-driven economy is gradually giving way to a more service-oriented and knowledge-based economy. Cities need these skilled people to solve many problems, such as planning the city, solving the housing shortage, improving the infrastructure, and so on [14]. Today, every technological advance demands our time and attention- to learn how to use the new technology. Time devoted to keeping pace with technology depletes time for leisure activities. So, we can improve the recreational facilities or add some parks as leisure facilities. It meets the demand for tips and rest in people's lives and increases economic income [15].
With the squint towards a knowledge-based economy, cities are also undergoing an economic transformation. The traditional manufacturing-driven economy is gradually giving way to a more service-oriented and knowledge-based economy [16]. Japan's economic transformation is worth learning from. First, it carried out scientific planning for industrial transformation and upgrading according to changes in market demand. Like updating the development plan every ten years, moving out the energy-intensive industries, and developing mechanization and chemical industries. In addition, we will vigorously develop the service sector. In the 21st century, it began to vigorously develop the service industry, which is mainly integrated with the information industry, and then develop the private economy, such as communications, and rationally allocate and make full use of scarce resources to continuously promote the industrial transformation and upgrading of Tokyo urban area.
4. Conclusion
To sum up, economic development and urbanization are complex and closely interrelated processes. By considering social, environmental, and economic factors and addressing them, we can strike a balance between economic development and urbanization, creating more sustainable and prosperous cities for the future. This will require government, society, and business combined efforts to achieve better urban life and healthier economic growth.
The most important thing for the government is to formulate some policies, including developing education, attracting talent in the city, and retaining talent in the town. The government should also focus on making policies to improve social welfare.
Society needs to increase green space. It is also necessary to do an excellent job of environmental protection and reduce industrial ecological pollution. Society should also pay attention to protecting the habitat of animals and plants. Society should also build recreational facilities to meet People's Daily consumption needs.
Businesses should focus on developing green energy and using clean energy, which can reduce environmental pollution, protect the habitat of wild animals and plants, and reduce the extinction of animals and plants. At the same time, we should also pay attention to sustainable development, and all enterprises whose economic level is declining should pay attention to enterprise transformation.
References
[1]. SONG, F. and TIMBERLAKE, M. (1996), CHINESE URBANIZATION, STATE POLICY, AND THE WORLD ECONOMY. Journal of Urban Affairs, 18: 285-306. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-9906.1996.tb00380.x
[2]. Humaira Yasmeen, Qingmei Tan, Hashim Zameer, Junlan Tan, Kishwar Nawaz, Exploring the impact of technological innovation, environmental regulations and urbanization on ecological efficiency of China in the context of COP21, Journal of Environmental Management, Volume 274, 2020, 111210
[3]. What is green urbanism? https://www.lincolninst.edu/sites/default/files/pubfiles/financing-metropolitan-governments-developing-full_0.pdf#page=288
[4]. Wei Zheng, Patrick Paul Walsh, Economic growth, urbanization and energy consumption — A provincial level analysis of China, Energy Economics, Volume 80, 2019, Pages 153-162
[5]. Boqiang Lin, Zhili Du, How China’s urbanization impacts transport energy consumption in the face of income disparity, Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Volume 52, 2015, Pages 1693-1701
[6]. Tian, L. (2016). Behind the Growth: Planning Education in China during Rapid Urbanization. Journal of Planning Education and Research, 36(4), 465-475.
[7]. Xuyi Liu, Junghan Bae, Urbanization and industrialization impact of CO2 emissions in China, Journal of Cleaner Production, Volume 172, 2018, Pages 178-186
[8]. Jun Yang, Jing Sun, Quansheng Ge, Xueming Li, Assessing the impacts of urbanization-associated green space on urban land surface temperature: A case study of Dalian, China, Urban Forestry & Urban Greening, Volume 22, 2017, Pages 1-10
[9]. Hongwei Li, Erqi Xu, Hongqi Zhang, Examining the coupling relationship between urbanization and natural disasters: A case study of the Pearl River Delta, China, International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction, Volume 55, 2021, 102057
[10]. Sustainable Urban Development Policies and Initiatives: Perspective of NUP 2007 and NUDS 2014 https://www.unescap.org/sites/default/files/1-3.%20Sustainable%20Urban%20Development%20Policies%20and%20Initiatives.pdf
[11]. What is green urbanism? https://corporate.enelx.com/en/question-and-answers/what-is-green-urbanism
[12]. NATIONAL URBAN POLICIES https://unhabitat.org/national-urban-policies
[13]. Mingxing Chen, Xinrong Huang, Jiafan Cheng, Zhipeng Tang, Gengzhi Huang, Urbanization and vulnerable employment: Empirical evidence from 163 countries in 1991–2019, Cities, Volume 135, 2023, 104208,
[14]. Kuddus, M.A., Tynan, E. & McBryde, E. Urbanization: a problem for the rich and the poor? Public Health Rev 41, 1 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1186/s40985-019-0116-0
[15]. Wan, G., Zhang, X. & Zhao, M. Urbanization can help reduce income inequality. npj Urban Sustain 2, 1 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1038/s42949-021-00040-y
[16]. EuroMeSCo Annual Conference https://www.iemed.org
Cite this article
Meng,K. (2024). Economic Development and Urbanization. Advances in Economics, Management and Political Sciences,101,118-123.
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References
[1]. SONG, F. and TIMBERLAKE, M. (1996), CHINESE URBANIZATION, STATE POLICY, AND THE WORLD ECONOMY. Journal of Urban Affairs, 18: 285-306. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-9906.1996.tb00380.x
[2]. Humaira Yasmeen, Qingmei Tan, Hashim Zameer, Junlan Tan, Kishwar Nawaz, Exploring the impact of technological innovation, environmental regulations and urbanization on ecological efficiency of China in the context of COP21, Journal of Environmental Management, Volume 274, 2020, 111210
[3]. What is green urbanism? https://www.lincolninst.edu/sites/default/files/pubfiles/financing-metropolitan-governments-developing-full_0.pdf#page=288
[4]. Wei Zheng, Patrick Paul Walsh, Economic growth, urbanization and energy consumption — A provincial level analysis of China, Energy Economics, Volume 80, 2019, Pages 153-162
[5]. Boqiang Lin, Zhili Du, How China’s urbanization impacts transport energy consumption in the face of income disparity, Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Volume 52, 2015, Pages 1693-1701
[6]. Tian, L. (2016). Behind the Growth: Planning Education in China during Rapid Urbanization. Journal of Planning Education and Research, 36(4), 465-475.
[7]. Xuyi Liu, Junghan Bae, Urbanization and industrialization impact of CO2 emissions in China, Journal of Cleaner Production, Volume 172, 2018, Pages 178-186
[8]. Jun Yang, Jing Sun, Quansheng Ge, Xueming Li, Assessing the impacts of urbanization-associated green space on urban land surface temperature: A case study of Dalian, China, Urban Forestry & Urban Greening, Volume 22, 2017, Pages 1-10
[9]. Hongwei Li, Erqi Xu, Hongqi Zhang, Examining the coupling relationship between urbanization and natural disasters: A case study of the Pearl River Delta, China, International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction, Volume 55, 2021, 102057
[10]. Sustainable Urban Development Policies and Initiatives: Perspective of NUP 2007 and NUDS 2014 https://www.unescap.org/sites/default/files/1-3.%20Sustainable%20Urban%20Development%20Policies%20and%20Initiatives.pdf
[11]. What is green urbanism? https://corporate.enelx.com/en/question-and-answers/what-is-green-urbanism
[12]. NATIONAL URBAN POLICIES https://unhabitat.org/national-urban-policies
[13]. Mingxing Chen, Xinrong Huang, Jiafan Cheng, Zhipeng Tang, Gengzhi Huang, Urbanization and vulnerable employment: Empirical evidence from 163 countries in 1991–2019, Cities, Volume 135, 2023, 104208,
[14]. Kuddus, M.A., Tynan, E. & McBryde, E. Urbanization: a problem for the rich and the poor? Public Health Rev 41, 1 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1186/s40985-019-0116-0
[15]. Wan, G., Zhang, X. & Zhao, M. Urbanization can help reduce income inequality. npj Urban Sustain 2, 1 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1038/s42949-021-00040-y
[16]. EuroMeSCo Annual Conference https://www.iemed.org