Publisher's Synopsis
This book is intended to be an introductory text on Urban and Regional Geography. It offers a precise statement on the concepts in urban studies, which a student at graduation and post Graduation level is supposed to know. It provides a sound framework for students on which they can build their advanced concepts.Urbanisation has been a global phenomenon. It is not confined to metropolis only. Cities are continuously expanding. The process of urbanisation, though associated with increase in employment opportunities, better living standard, increased level of income, increased production, investment and consumption and availability of social and economic infrastructure, has led to deterioration in the quality of these infrastructures and lowering of the quality of life in many metropolitan cities as well as in the medium and small towns of India.It is a well known fact that the growth and development of a town is unsustainable without a proper social and economic base. Moreover, if the benefits of the growth and development do not percolate to the common people, the widening gap between the rich and the poor and between the developed and the undeveloped area has a dangerous potentiality of serious social conflicts and tensions.The study of urbanisation, therefore, is assuming increasing importance all over the world, and especially in the developing countries where the urban population is growing rapidly. In India also, urbanisation has tremendously increased during last two decades. Obviously, it has become a matter of attention for civil administrators, demographers and social scientists. An understanding of the causes and consequences of urbanisation and its relationship with economic growth and social change is essential for economic planning and policy making.The present Book, "Urbanisation and Urban System" is an effort in the direction of bringing out a complete, concrete textbook on the aspects of Urban and Regional Geography. This book describes the various approaches which geographers have applied to the study of urban and urbanism: the physical, socio-economic and behavioral aspects or urban geography.The book comprises of eighteen chapters with focus on Cities, Urban system and urbanisation. The book contains a comprehensive glossary and a good reference section. The text is broad in scope and makes full use of cross-cultural comparison
