Question 1 (2007)

To what extent do you agree that primacy simply represents an early stage in a
countrys urban development?
Urban primacy is when the urban hierarchy is dominated by a single city, the
primate city that has more than double the number of people size than the
next largest city in the country and also more than twice as significant, with
vast rural areas. Primacy results from colonial history, and mainly because of
limited resources and high population growth, where resources and people are
concentrated in the primate city to enable and seek the most benefits, and
thus I agree to a small extent that primacy simply represents an early stage in
a countrys urban development, because though it is at early stages in a
countrys urban development where they suffer from limited resources and
exponential urban population growth, primacy still definitely does occur in
countries at later stages of urban development, as a consequence of colonial
history and control - primacy also represents a past as a colonial city.
Firstly, primacy represents an early stage in a countrys urban development,
because in less developed countries, there are limited resources poverty
characterizes not only the people residing within the LDCs, but also many LDC
governments, because of years of corruption and mismanagement, and an
economic structure and focus that does not generate high volumes of national
income. Thus, LDCs generally have very limited supplies of capital to plough
back into the development of the country. Furthermore, because of the lack of
government capital, government resources would often be channeled into
selected regions, usually an ex-colonial city because of its inherent advantages.
For many cities history, colonialists had centralized their administrative body
in one city in the country, developing the city to improve the communication
and transport networks there. Thus these colonial cities became the focus of
development and seat of colonial government so there would generally be
superior infrastructural developments within this city, and this continues to
today, because governments see the benefit of further developing a primate
city to reap the benefits of economic prosperity in that city. The foundations for
primacy were laid during the colonial period and the trend continued since
independence. For example, Mexico City was made the heart of the colonial
empire and administrative centre after the Spanish Conquest, and now
generates 1/3 of the countrys gross domestic product, and has 2/5 of its
manufacturing, partly because of its market size and cumulative attractions.
Beneficial economic factors as mentioned above cumulate to result in the
formation of a growth pole, where special bias in the governments fund
allocation lead to regional disparities within the country, with the city receiving
inward investment becoming a lot more attractive than the surrounding cities.
Thus, as a result of limited resources, characteristic of LDCs, which are then
concentrated in a colonial city, primate cities result.
Also, primacy represents an early stage in a countrys urban development,
because it is in LDCs that immense urban population growth is still seen. A
country which experiences a very rapid population growth is likely to tend
towards primacy as rapid population growth in a country would provide the
surplus population for the expansion of the primate city as more people
gravitate towards the one dominant city for the services it offers. Population

growth is so rapid because of rural-urban migration, where there is perceived

superior opportunities a large city would have for employment and for the
chance to break out of the poverty cycle, and like in Thailand, it is much easier
to move directly to the Bangkok, the primate city, than other regional capitals
though closer to home. Roi Et, a small town in northeastern Thailand, has 2
buses a week making the 900 kilometer trip to Bangkok, a much better service
than to the regional capital of Khon Khaen. Hence, as a result of poor
communication systems and linkages within the country, rural villagers are
thus not likely to know of alternative centres to move to other than the biggest.
As compared to countries in later stages of urban development, migration from
rural to urban is minimal as most of the country is urbanized already, so urban
growth is low. Furthermore, in LDCs children are still viewed as assets because
in the absence of child labour laws and compulsory education, children can now
be sent out to work the streets as street hawkers or to wok in sweatshops, thus
adding to family income. Thus, primacy is fuelled by high rates of rural-urban
migration and natural increase which is characteristic of LDCs, hence
representing early stages in a countrys urban development.
However, primacy is also still prevalent in countries at later stages of urban
development, as it is the romanticized notion of living in a famous primate city
which would bring success and prosperity, that continues to draw people to
primate cities such as London and Paris. Contrasting with countries at early
stages, developed countries at later stages of urban development have more
balanced urbanization in present times, with a well-developed urban hierarchy
with a high degree of interdependence in the urban system. This is because
even though primacy is still present, decentralization forces are strong too,
with people choosing to move out of the city to less congested, slower paced,
smaller cities. As a result, though primacy is definitely present in later stages,
but the disparity in population is much greater in LDCs than DCs. For example,
the population in Bangkok (9 million) is 40 times that of the next largest city,
Chiangmai (200,000), while the population in London (7 million) is only 7 times
that of the next largest city, Birmingham (1 million). Primacy also strongly
represents a colonial past, which carries on its influence till present times, even
in DCs. For example, in Ireland, the primate city Dublin is 4 times the size of
the next largest city, Cork. This is because Dublin grew as the point of colonial
control under England, the port of exit and entry, and was the military and
administrative capital of one of Englands oldest colonies. Ireland was
organised as an agricultural economy, designed to grow crops for export to
England, and industry was not encouraged. As can be seen from the example
of Dublin for DCs and Mexico for LDCs, primacy does not simply represent a
country at early stage of urban development, since DCs have primacy too, but
instead, represents a colonial past, where the structure and distribution of
resources that the colonial masters decided on carried on its impact to today,
where the city they chose as the centre of control remains as it is until today,
developing more rapidly than other cities, still holding the position as the
primate city.
In conclusion, I agree to a small extent that primacy simply represents an early
stage in a countrys urban development as primacy still does largely occur in
countries at later stages of urban development, though with lesser disparity.

Rachel Lim (9)

6C43