A County-Level Measure of Urban Influence

In 1997 Linda Ghelfi and Tim Parker provided research on A County-Level of Measure of
Urban Influence. Linda Ghelif is a senior economist in the Rural Business & Development
Policy Branch and Tim Parker is a sociology in the Food Assistance, Poverty & Well Being
Branch of the Food & Rural Economics Division, ERS. The Urban Influence Codes were
initially released by them in 1997. The purpose of this article was to measure the vast diverseness
of metropolitan, non-metropolitan and surrounding counties and how they are economically
connected. These codes were used to divide all counties in the United State and the
Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. They encompass nearly 1,200 metro counties and over 1,300
non-metro counties. Each of these counties are subdivided to seven groups and distinguished by
their adjacency to metro or micro areas and whether or not they are populated by at least 2,500
residents.
Researchers postulated that non-metro counties that are adjacent to metro were
increasingly growing at a more rapid pace than non-metro groups. Based on the Economic
Research Service (ERS) calculation obtained from the Bureau of the Census. The non-metro
grew nearly twice as much with and without large cities. The non-metro benefited more due to
their proximity of counties with large cities. Conversely, cities that were not adjacent to counties
with large cities were experiencing a decline in their population due to unbalance of
development. Counties are that are experiencing the plights suffered more. Education,
employment, industry and if an Institution of Higher Learning is near, they will see a decrease in
enrollment as well. Ghelfi and Parker also theorized that earning per job in metro area would
earn about 25% in income than that of counties adjacent without cities. This is why non-metro
residents generally commute to metro areas.

Ghelfi and Parker method in obtaining information for their research was based on the
Urban Influence Codes which it is based on the Office of Management and Budgets (OMB).
This method divides and subdivides the counties and independent cities in the United States. A
metro county is sub-divide into metro and micro. A metropolitan is defined as more than 1
million and micropolitan is adjacent to a metro counties, but with a population between 50,000
999,999. The litmus test of this method was conducted on a non-metro area with more than
20,000 residents. Apparently this method work, because a 2013 version of the Urban Influence
Codes version were released and compared to the 2003 version.
My findings is that geographically counties that are not adjacent to metro area growing
faster because the residents are relocating from rural areas to towns. Likewise, the counties are
adjacent grew as well. It seems that counties adjacent to large and/or small metro areas are
growing. One area grows while the other suffers due because it lacks development opportunities.
Not only is that hard to maintain a standard quality of life in many rural areas. Not to belittle the
quality of life from a rural area because I am a product of rural town and I like to think I turned
out well.
In conclusion, the Urban Influence Codes is a particular classification scheme that views
the importance of adjacent counties regardless of sizes within metro and non-metro scope. Ghelfi
and Parker exploited the differences in simple metropolitan counties as they relate to nonmetropolitan counties. They discovered certain characteristics such as which cities have the
highest physicians / population ration and which residents have access to local educational
opportunities as it pertains to institution per counties.

Urbanization, housing and environment: Megacities of Africa

Urbanization of megacities is concept that many of probably do not understand. What
exactly is urbanization? Urbanization is fast occurring in developing countries especially those in
Africa and Asia and with African countries experiencing the most rapid urbanization (United
Nations, 2004; Ziegler, Brunn & Williams, 2003). We will be focusing on the two principal
metropolitan areas in Africa: Cairo (Egypt) and Lagos (Nigeria). The author theorized that in
2030 these two megacities will become more developed as the year passes. However, as these
cities develop, the housing condition will become substandard. Urbanization is a global event
that is taking place. In 2007 was the first time in history that over 50% of the world populations
were living in urban areas. Some scientists have concurred with Mr. Makinde as he projects that
an additional half a billion people will be urbanized. We will exam how this effect to the two
megacities in Africa.
Looking at the current trend within these major cities, the margin potential for
exponential growth for these two cities is slowly dwindling. For example, Lagos (Nigeria)
population increase fifty fold from 300,000 in 1950 to 15,000,000 in 2007. There is a difference
in population information. According 2011 article by Falade, he stated that Nigeria population
was 30 million in 1952 and 140 million in 2006. This increase in the megacities is a result of the
populous is competing basic simple elements of life that are difficult to obtain in rural Africa.
Other studies (FMDUH 2003) indicate that Lagos noticed that the urban population has grown
about 5.8% per annum which exceed the 3% estimate for entire population. For most of Africa,
this is significant transformation of human settlement. The rapid urbanization is forcing the two
cities into expanding their geographical regions. These two megacities are being challenge in the
developing countries, especially in the area of urban housing. Sing (1992) and Oberai (1993)

pointed out in their research. They observed that migrants often relocate to urban area in search
of better employment and income opportunities. Urbanization in Africa seemly has been widely
misconceived as having been the result of colonialization. This misconception assumed that the
Africans did not have the political intelligence and the organizational ability to build towns but
rather lived in isolated settlements (Hull, 1976). Chandler wrote in a 1994 article the Africa was
urbanized early as 3200 BC and extended to the other continents.
It appears the method the author used empirically analyzed the relationship between
population, technological progress, and economic growth in Africas two megacities from 1950
to 2005, using the LA-VAR (lag-augmented vector autoregression) model. The empirical results
reveal that a major conformational change in the economic development in Africa. I cannot
determine the specific methodology or data source based on finding. I can only speculate that
various sources were used in comprising the information in the study of Africas megacities
urbanization. I would be appropriate to assume that population census data was utilized. Another
methodology source possible used was the United Nation. The UN conducted a study that in
2005, 50% of the world population would live in urban areas.
My findings in Africa, where urbanization is still considerably lower than the developed
countries, Africa is expected to be 54 percent urban by 2025 (The Economist, 2010). I am saying
that urbanization occurred without making the resources and employment opportunities to
accommodate this tremendous growth in population. The migrants into urban areas often
stipulate a severity of urban employment, social, economic and housing problems. This situation
is due to the fact that increase there is not enough employment opportunities for influx of
migrants. This will to traffic congestion, slower speed and possible longer trip time. An over

populated megacity can lead to a stressful life. Lagos and Cairo have to find a way to ameliorate
their urbanization situation for the betterment of their citizens.
In summary, this research concluded that Africas megacities urbanization problem can
address by focusing on some type of comprehensive plan (as President Obama would say).
Possibly future research can help them improve their facilities and current situation. Its clear
that poverty, pollution, air and water and housing shortages plague Lagos and Cairo. The
population of Lagos lives on less a dollar per day in terms of purchasing power. The African
government can strengthen their economy by utilizing local resources instead of relying on
imported goods that is reach of the low income and urban poor citizens.