Urban economics - Research Paper Example

First Last Number 14 September Urban Economics Paper ORIGIN AND HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT OF AN URBAN CONCENTRATION AT THIS LOCATION The location that has been chosen for this particular study is the greater Cleveland metro area of the US. It is declared as the 29th most populous metropolitan area of the US. Around five country fall under this metropolitan area. The area has experienced immense development over the years owing to certain specific reasons. In total, this particular metropolitan region has a population of around 1,780,673, which is one of the largest in any region of the US.

The total area land of this particular region is around 771.97 SQMI. Some of the most notable national resource of this particular region includes iron and mineral among others, which further ensures wide opportunities for the mining industry of this particular region. The geographical significance of the region mainly comprises the suburbs region. Natural gas has been extensively used by vehicles of this particular region from the historical days, which further aids in controlling pollution to a certain extent.

The stiff rules and regulations that prevail in this particular area are deemed to be quite effective and make it one of the most competitive metropolitan areas of the US over the years from its existence. In order to develop the private sector of this particular area, the Greater Cleveland Partnership was formed in the year 2004. This particular approach of the particular metropolitan area primarily intends to ensure greater foreign investment in the region and likewise, ensure improvement in the region at large1 Public transportation in this particular region also has a rich history associated with it.

Notably, private transportation in this particular region began in the year 1818. The use of heavy rail system was initiated in the year 1952 as part of the development in the domain of public transport. Cleveland Transit System (CTS) was also started within the city in the preceding years. Development has been also identified in the domain of business management of this particular metropolitan area, which again led to the development of the place over the years. The Minority Business Development Agency Business Center-Cleveland is one of such programs that worked towards the development of the place in terms of the business environment2.

POPULATION SIZE AND DENSITY AND ITS CHANGE OVER TIME The population of the place has depicted constant increase over the years of its existence. This is owing to the development of the place and urbanization. This can be comprehended from the fact that in the year 1960, the total population of the place was around 2,825,417 while the same in the present day scenario is around 300 million or more3. The percentage change in population is around -1.7% from 2010 to 2013, which depicts a marginal decline.

This can be due to growth in the death rate in the region and decline in the birth rate. With regard to the density of population of the place, it has been noted that in the year 1990, the density of Cleveland was around 2,659 for the overall population and it was placed in 14th position among all the urbanized area of the nation i.e. the US4. SEGREGATION/DIVERSITY Proper segregation of the people on the basis of their nationality or ethnic or racial background is deemed to be quite vital. Notably, the dissimilarity index for the region is around 0.

854 in 1980, 0.824 in 1990 and 0.768 in 2000. On the other hand, the isolation index for the place depicts 0.784, 0.772 and 0.721 figures from the year i.e. 1980, 1990 and 2000 respectively. The dissimilarity and isolation index mainly depicted the segregation of black and white Americans for the US in this particular region i.e. Cleveland5. POVERTY/INEQUALITY Notably, for the Greater Cleveland metropolitan area, the current poverty rate is estimated to be around 34.2% as per the census of the US for the year 2013.

The rate is seen to be triple as compared to other counties in the US. It has been also comprehend that around 16% of the people in this particular region is living below the poverty line, which further seeks for extensive development in the employment sector of the place. With regard to the figures relevant to children, it has been learnt that around 52.6% of child in the Cleveland area lives below the poverty line6. EMPLOYMENT AND UNEMPLOYMENT The rate of employment in any particular sector also determines the level of development of that particular place.

In this regard, employment and employment rate of Cleveland would be vital to discuss. Notably, in the present day scenario, the unemployment rate of the Cleveland area is around 7.3%, which is greater than that of the overall unemployment rate of the US i.e. 7.0. From the year 2011 to 2014, employment in this particular region has shown fluctuating trend with periodic increase and decrease in the figure. Some of the major areas that provide employment in this particular region include mining, manufacturing and transportation among others7 GROSS METROPOLITAN PRODUCT AND EMPLOYMENT BY INDUSTRY GDP of Cleveland was around 488,557 in the year 2010, 501,335 in 2011 and 517,064 in 2012.

This depicts a clear and sustainable increase in the GDP over the years. The contribution of the metropolitan area to the overall GDP of the country is around 1.8%, 0.17% and -0.05% respectively for 2010, 2011 and 2012 respectively. With regard to employment, 16.7% is provided by mining sector, 0.7% has been provided by manufacturing sector and 0.9% is provided by trade sector8. CONGESTION/MASS TRANSIT The congestion data index for the metropolitan area of Cleveland in the year 1982 was around 0.73. In the year 1992, the data reached around 0.

82 while in 2002 it reached at 0.89. In the year 2010, the figure for congestion was around 0.83. These aspects show that the mass transit or congestion index of the region showed a fluctuating trend over the years9. HOUSING PRICES The housing index for Cleveland in 2014 is around 204.765. This depicts a percentage change of 2.4% from the preceding year i.e. 2013. This clearly depicts a considerable change in the housing prices in Cleveland10. POLLUTION Pollution is also a vital factor that depicts the environmental condition of any particular region.

Likewise, the environmental condition of Cleveland can be depicted from the current state of pollution of this particular region. Notably, large part of the region has a pollution level that can be regarded as good since the same has less impact on the health of the people. No such area has been depicted in Cleveland that has extreme pollution that emits harmful gases11. CRIME According to the data provided by the FBI, Cleveland has witnessed 351 violent crimes, 303 forcible rape and 74 motor vehicle theft in the year 2010.

These figures are quite high, which accordingly, signifies that the region has a higher rank in terms of crime and violence12. QUALITY OF LIFE The quality of life of this particular region can be adjudged from the fact that cost associated with housing, food, and education along with other day-to-day needs has been constant in the recent years with minimal growth. This can be regarded as positive aspect with regard to the aspect of quality of life13. STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES The strength of this particular area can be the level of urban development over the years along with the quality of life and favorable environmental conditions of the region.

On the other hand, the weakness of this particular region can be in the form of increasing level of crime and cost of living. This needs to be fixed in the future context, while development can be regarded as the base for future growth of this particular region. Works Cited “Consumer Price Index, Cleveland-Akron-Lorain – September 2014.” BLS, n.d. Web. 08 Dec. 2014. “Cleveland, OH, Area Economic Summary.” BLS, 2014. Web. 08 Dec. 2014. “Facts on Hunger, Food Assistance, Poverty and Income in Our Service Area.

” Cleveland Foodbank, n.d. Web. 08 Dec. 2014. “About GCP.” Greater Cleveland Partnership, 2013. Web. 08 Dec. 2014. “US Urbanized Areas: Density Profiles.” Demographia, 1990. Web. 08 Dec. 2014. Exner, Rich. Census Estimates Show Greater Cleveland Population down Slightly, 2013. Web. 08 Dec. 2014. “Congestion Data for Your City.” Texas A & M University, 2014. Web. 08 Dec. 2014. “Crime in the United States.” FBI, 2010. Web. 08 Dec. 2014. “Residential Segregation of Blacks or African Americans: 1980-2000.

” United States Census, n.d. Web. 08 Dec. 2014.