LIC / NEE Urban Growth: Case Study Skills — GCSE Geography Revision
Revise LIC / NEE Urban Growth: Case Study Skills for GCSE Geography. Step-by-step explanation, worked examples, common mistakes and exam-style practice aligned to AQA, Edexcel and OCR.
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Go to Resource Security: Oil, Water & Critical MaterialsWhat is LIC / NEE Urban Growth: Case Study Skills?
When studying urban growth in a Low-Income Country (LIC) or Newly Emerging Economy (NEE), it is crucial to use a specific case study (e.g., Lagos, Nigeria or Mumbai, India). For this city, you must be able to locate it, understand its regional and international importance, and explain the causes of its growth. You then need to describe the social, economic, and environmental opportunities and challenges created by this growth, such as the development of an informal economy alongside the challenges of managing squatter settlements.
Board notes: All boards (AQA, Edexcel, OCR) require a detailed case study of a major city in an LIC or NEE. The ability to use case study-specific detail to explain the causes, opportunities, and challenges of rapid urbanisation is a high-level skill that examiners look for.
Step-by-step explanationWorked example
Analysing the informal economy in Lagos: The formal economy in Lagos cannot provide enough jobs for the rapidly growing population. As a result, about 60% of the workforce is employed in the informal sector, in jobs like street vending, waste recycling (e.g., at the Olusosun landfill site), or driving motorbike taxis. While these jobs are often low-paid and unregulated, they provide a vital source of income for millions of people and contribute significantly to the city's economy.
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Common mistakes
- 1Making generic statements about cities in LICs. You must use specific facts, figures, and named locations from your chosen case study to support your points. For example, instead of saying 'there are slums', say 'in Lagos, over 60% of the population live in informal settlements like Makoko'.
- 2Only focusing on the negatives. While the challenges are significant, you must also describe the opportunities created by urban growth, such as access to jobs (both formal and informal), education, and healthcare that are not available in rural areas.
- 3Describing a problem without linking it to a solution. Good answers will describe a challenge (e.g., lack of sanitation in squatter settlements) and then evaluate a specific project that has tried to solve it (e.g., the Makoko Floating School or self-help schemes).
LIC / NEE Urban Growth: Case Study Skills exam questions
Exam-style questions for LIC / NEE Urban Growth: Case Study Skills with mark-scheme style solutions and timing practice. Aligned to AQA, Edexcel and OCR specifications.
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Step-by-step method
Step-by-step explanation
4 steps · Worked method for LIC / NEE Urban Growth: Case Study Skills
Core concept
When studying urban growth in a Low-Income Country (LIC) or Newly Emerging Economy (NEE), it is crucial to use a specific case study (e.g., Lagos, Nigeria or Mumbai, India). For this city, you must be…
Frequently asked questions
Why is Lagos an important city?
Lagos is Nigeria's largest city and its main financial centre. It is one of the fastest-growing megacities in the world and a major port, making it a hub for international trade and a key driver of the Nigerian and wider West African economy.
What is a self-help scheme?
A self-help scheme is a small-scale project where local residents are given the tools and training to improve their own community. This could involve building new homes, installing water pipes, or paving roads. It is often a more affordable and sustainable approach than large-scale government projects.