Spatial Inequality in Mexico City: From Cardboard to Castles

1. Spatial Inequality in Mexico City: From Cardboard to Castles Chapter 9

2. I. Geoterms • rural decline - Worsening economic conditions in the countryside, including rising unemployment and growing poverty • spatial inequality – The unequal distribution of wealth or resources in a geographic area, so that some places are richer than others • standard of living – The overall level of comfort and well-being of a group or a country. People in developed countries generally have a higher standard of living than people in developing countries. D. Urbanization – The movement of people from rural to urban areas, resulting in growth of urban areas

3. II. Geographic Setting

4. A. A City of Wonders: The Aztec Capital of Tenochtitlan 1. First settlers established settlement in the Valley of Mexico thousands of years ago. 2. The grand city of Tenochtitlan had more than 1 million people in the Valley. 3. Standard of living for the Aztecs was high. City residents had plenty of food from farming, fishing and trade.

7. B. A Bustling National Capital 1. The Spanish Conquered the Aztecs in 1521 established Mexico City 2. Blending of Cultures can be seen throughout Mexico 3. Urbanization has increased in the last 50 years. Mexico City has 18 million residents.

9. III. Rural Decline causes Urban Migration

10. A. Farmers struggle in the Countryside 1. Only 15 % of land is usable. The rest is too rocky or dry. • Communal lands or ejidos are large plots that are owned by several farmers a. farmers are struggling to compete with large farms b. many small farmers are unemployed and are living in poverty

12. B. Migration to the City Brings Renewed Hope 1. Seeking better wages and education for their kids many have migrated to the city 2. Rural to urban migration highest in 1970s and 1980s. problem in Mexico City has caused some to migrate to the U.S.

13. IV. Urbanization Creates New Problems

14. A. Too Many People, Too little land 1. City is not growing as fast because migration has decreased and family size has decreased. 2. Suburbs are still expanding up the sides of the Valley of Mexico 3. Mexico has to deal with many problems related to overcrowding

16. B. Pollution, Poverty, Crime 1. Air quality is very unhealthful in the capital because of smog 2. Residents fear for their safety because overcrowding and poverty typically lead to crime

17. V. City of “haves” and “have nots”

18. A. The “have nots” struggle to survive 1. Slums are run-down makeshift neighborhoods where newcomers to the city are forced to live 2. Many of the working poor work more than one job to get by

19. B. The “haves” live well 1. ¼ of the population of Mexico City is Upper or Middle class 2. The wealthiest are landowners, run large businesses and many live in estates 3. The middle class typically lives in apartments in the center of the city they have struggling recently because the economy has been on a downturn

20. VI. Beginning to Think Globally

21. A. Spatial inequality does not exist only in large cities, but in any area where difference in wealth affect how people live. B. Standard of living is sometimes measured by life expectancy, level of education, per capita GDP