What causes lie behind the increase in urban agglomerations?

An urban agglomeration is an extended city or town area comprising the built-up area of a central place.

1. 'Communication economies'.
Companies prefer being situated close to one another. It offers the benefits of shared infrastructure, low transport costs and simplicity of organising face to face contact.
 London is an excellent example of this. Think about the 'banking area' Canary Wharf or... Lime Street where Lloyds, Willis and the 'Walkie Talkie' building are all located close together.

2. Cumulative causation or the 'multiplier effect'.

 

Learn diagrams for the exam, increases marks.

 

The 'mass-gravity' effect is linked in here. This is the idea that success breeds success.

 

3. The 'basic inputs'.

This refers simply to the addition of people to the urban population via NATURAL INCREASE and RURAL-URBAN MIGRATION

 

4. Status-Symbol syndrome

This conveys the idea that cities often have a 'prestige' about them as events/development is centred there.

People are attracted to being at 'the centre of things'

London is often called a 'magnet' or 'sinkhole' for young newly graduated people.

 

5. Development.

This refers to general economic development and advances in technology such as transport.

Think about the effect of the electrification of the main line in the UK. The reduced travel times meant that people could travel with greater ease up and down the country. 70% of train journeys begin or end in London.