Blackwell Reference Online

Extract

Urban is one of those deceptive concepts that seem simple to grasp yet have many layers of complexity that are subject to varying interpretations, depending on one's theoretical and analytical predisposition. Derived from the Latin word urbanus (meaning characteristic of, or pertaining to, the city), urban essentially holds that same connotation to most people. Complicating that understanding, however, are varying criteria among the 228 countries with urban populations. These criteria include administrative function (a national or regional capital), economic characteristics (more than half the residents in non-agricultural occupations), functional nature (existence of paved streets, water supply, sewerage, and electrical systems), and population size or population density. Administrative function is used solely in 89 countries and in combination with other criteria in an additional 20. Economic is one of several criteria in 27 countries, as is functional in 19 countries; functional is also used solely in 5 countries. Population size or density is the sole criterion in 46 countries and in combination in an additional 42. No definition exists in 24 countries, while in Guadeloupe, Hong Kong, Kuwait, Monaco, Nauru, and Singapore the entire population is designated as urban. Such differences make cross-national comparisons difficult. For example, the lower-range limit ... log in or subscribe to read full text