Final answer:
Urbanization is the process where urban areas grow rapidly, (option 1) involving economic, social, and political changes. It brings both positive (economic growth, services) and negative effects (traffic, housing shortages). Managing urban growth, especially in developing nations, is a significant challenge.
Step-by-step explanation:
Urbanization is 1) A process wherein urban areas tend to grow at a very rapid rate. It involves the movement of people from rural to urban areas and the resulting growth of cities. Urbanization can lead to various social, political, and economic changes within urban environments. As a city grows, it may become a microcosm of universal human behavior, but it also presents unique challenges and behaviors specific to its urban context. Once a population reaches around 100,000, it oftentimes adopts the behaviors and characteristics of a city, regardless of its official designation.
Positive impacts of urbanization include economic development, increased opportunities for employment, and improved services and infrastructure. There is often a concentration of resources which can lead to efficiencies and innovation.
However, there are also negative impacts. Rapid urban growth can lead to traffic congestion, overburdened infrastructure such as crowded schools, and rising housing costs due to increased demand. Furthermore, urbanization can intensify racial tensions and contribute to a widening economic gap between the rich and the poor. In developing countries, the shift from rural to urban living can result in the expansion of slums and increased pressure on the urban labor market.
In the global context, urbanization rates vary widely. Developed nations like the United States have approximately 80% of their population living in metropolitan areas. In contrast, many poorer nations, including those in Africa, have only about 30% of their population in urban areas, presenting significant challenges as their economies grow and urban areas expand.