Casing Factors of the Urban Sprawl

The concentration of urban populations in megacities, housing over 10 million inhabitants such as Tokyo, New York, and London, epitomizes high population density. These mega-cities, grappling with intense population pressures and limited space for future growth, propel urban sprawl outward from the urban core as a consequence of urbanization.

Urban sprawl is influenced by various factors, which differ depending on its nature and national contexts. However, the underlying factors driving urban sprawl exhibit similar characteristics in developed and developing nations. The European Environment Agency identified the primary causes of urban sprawl as outlined (Table 01).

Table 01.: Triggering Factors of Urban Sprawl

Context	Triggering Factors
Macro-economic factors	Economic growth          Globalization
Micro-economic factors	Rising living standards          Price of land          Availability of cheap agricultural land         Competition between municipalities
Demographic factors	Population growth          Increase in household formation
Housing preferences	More space per person          Housing preferences
Inner city problems	Poor air quality         Noise          Small apartments          Unsafe environments         Social problems        Lack of green open space         Poor quality of school
Transportation	Private car ownership          Availability of roads          Low cost of fuel        Poor public transport
Regulatory frameworks	Weak land use planning         Poor enforcement of existing plans        Lack of horizontal and vertical coordination and collaboration

Source: European Environment Agency, 2006.

These factors contribute to urban sprawl across core and peripheral countries. For example, Sri Lanka recorded approximately 5.6 million registered vehicles in 2022, fostering urban sprawl due to dependence on automobiles. Income levels and governmental policies further incentivize migration to rural areas for a quieter lifestyle, free from urban socio-economic pressures. The influence of income levels and governmental regulations align with a country's socio-economic status. Moreover, the bid-rent theory highlights the significant role of land prices in urban sprawl, closely intertwined with people's income levels.

Additionally, individuals' preferences play a significant role in initiating urban sprawl in specific geographic areas, shaping the characteristics of residences and dwellings according to these preferences.

Reference:

European Environment Agency (EEA). (2006). Urban Sprawl in Europe: The Ignored Challenge. European Commission, http://www.eea.europa.eu/publications/eea_report_2006_10. (Accessed 12 August 2023).