Abstract
The number of people in the world is ever-increasing in recent times. This growth in the population has been accompanied by an increase in urbanization. This paper addresses the quality of life in the suburban areas. It starts by introducing the general global state of the population. It then takes a look at the urbanization trend over the years and the factors that have led to the growth and expansion of urban areas. With urbanization, changes in the socio-economic spheres of peoples’ lives occur. An increase in urbanization is accompanies by changes in employment rates, literacy levels, healthcare provision, housing provision among other issues that affect the standards of peoples’ lives. The city of New York was used as the area of study. New York is the most populated city in the United States. Its population comprises of people from different diverse ethnic and cultural backgrounds. Statistics on the various factors that influence the growth of this city is readily available.
Introduction
Over the years, the population of the world has been on an upward trend. According to the United Nations (2011), the population of the world was estimated to have reached the 7 billion mark.Many countries have been exhibiting rapid population growth with rates. The rate of rural-urban population has also been rising since the Industrial Revolution. Urbanization which can be described as the demographic transition from rural to urban, is associated with shifts from an agriculture-based economy to mass industry, technology, and service. The factors that attract people to move from rural to urban areas and thus the growth of cities and towns are provision better healthcare systems, better paying occupations, improved standards of living, quality education, and urban centers are multicultural and financial hubs. However, the growth of cities and towns is also constrained by deterioration in the productivity of farming land in the rural areas, inadequate raw materials for rural industries and low income.
Background of the Study
The United States has been experiencing significant population growth over the years. The upward surge in the population is as result of natural increase and net migration. Natural increase refers to the net effect of births over deaths. According to the U.S. Census Data dated (2012),the city of New York is the most populous city in the United States. It is also among the largest cities in the world. The history of the city explains its metropolitan status with residents from all ethnicities, religious backgrounds and culture. The city exhibits high income levels. The growth of New York City introduces unique challenges in the standards of living of people. It becomes necessary to analyze the reasons why many people move to urban areas. This study drew its relevance and significance from the pull and push factors that have led to the growth and expansion of New York City.
Statement of the Problem
The number of people who reside in New York City has been rising on an alarmingly high rate over the recent years. This growth in population has been attributed to a myriad of factors. Generally, people move into cities because of the lure and convenience that comes with working in such places. However, it has also been observed that urban areas have more employment opportunities, offer better remunerating jobs, provide better health care facilities, quality education among other things. This research paper intends to find out if the movement from rural to urban centers actually leads to the overall improvement in the standards of living for urban dwellers. It analyzes if the standards of living that are achieved by the city dwellers of New York can justify the reasons for their stay in the city.
Objective of the Study
This research paper aimed at finding out if there is a relationship existing between the increase in the city’s population and the quality of life (married couples with children, educational attainment-enrolled in college or graduate school, employment (25 and over with bachelor’s degree), median household income, poverty, workers commuting by public transportation, households with no vehicles available and workers commuting by driving alone) that is attained by the residents of the city. It involved understanding the reasons that motivate or force people to move from rural areas to urban areas. It also analyzed the impact of growing urban centers on the quality of life for urban dwellers.
Significance of the Study
This research was intended to add to the existing body of research work done on the effect of urbanization. The study will help in understanding the impact of population growth and urban expansion. The changes that accompany this trend will also be analyzed. This will help in ensuring that the quality of life in urban areas is improved.
Review of Literature
There are several research work conducted on the reasons why many people move into urban areas. The impact of urbanization on the various aspects of peoples’ socio-economic life has been studied by several researchers, analysts and academicians.
Urbanization and Population
According to the United States Census Bureau (2011), New York City has the highest population in the United States. As at the year 2012, the Bureau had approximated the number of people in the city at an all-time high of 8,336,697 city dwellers. This figure included both natural increase in the population and net immigration. The ethnic composition of residents in New York City according to the United States Census Bureau (2010) is as follows: white (44%) of which (33.3% is non-Hispanic white), black (25.5%), Asian (12.7%) and Native American (0.7%). This makes New York a highly metropolitan City.
Household size
According to United States Census Bureau (2010), the median age of the City was averaged at 38.0. The mean size of the household stood at 2.57 persons per household. Considering the number of housing units provided by the state, 46.7% were rented while the remaining 53.3% of the housing units were owned.
Literacy levels
In his book Illiterate America, Jonathan Kozol argues that the high levels of literacy may be due to poor methodology.
As in 2008, about 15% of the population could function at the highest levels in all three categories. Approximately 40% were at either basic or below basic levels of proficiency in all three categories.
Data Collection
The data used in this study was collected for various variables for the period between 2000-2011. In obtaining data pertaining to the topic of study, information on the following important variables was gathered: population, married couples with children, educational attainment-enrolled in college or graduate school, employment (25 and over with bachelor’s degree), median household income, poverty, workers commuting by public transportation, households with no vehicles available and workers commuting by driving alone.
Data Analysis
Data analysis is a process that usually succeeds data collection. Regression analysis was used as the instrument for data analysis. Multiple regression analysis was conducted twice. This included a three-variable regression analysis and a ten-variable model. The three-variable regression analysis conducted involved testing if there was a relationship between the population, poverty and employment. The assumption here was that an increase in the population of the city affects the level of employment and poverty. This affects the quality of life of people in the city.
The ten-variable regression analysis involved analyzing the relationship between the endogenous variable and a number of exogenous variables. This involved understanding the relationship between population, married couples with children, educational attainment-enrolled in college or graduate school, employment (25 and over with bachelor’s degree), median household income, poverty, workers commuting by public transportation, households with no vehicles available and workers commuting by driving alone.
Regression Analysis
Regression is an essential instrument of analysis in research studies. It is deals with finding out the causal relationships that exist between two or more variables: how alterations in the independent variable(s) affect the dependent variable. Causality means that it is mandatory that the exogenous variable(s) influence the endogenous variable. In regression analysis, symmetry is essential, that is, there is a clear difference between the endogenous variable and the exogenous variable(s). Only the dependent variable is taken to be statistical or random but the independent variable(s) are taken to be constant.
In the three variable regression analysis, the research studied the effect of only one independent variable on the dependent variable. This regression was carried out to determine if there exists a relationship between the population, poverty and employment. The model parameters are indicated in the table below:
Hypothesis testing
Tests of hypotheses are usually conducted to check on the accuracy and reliability of the regression results obtained. The ordinary least squares parameters derived are supposed to indicate true estimations of the population parameters. Hypothesis testing is conducted to ensure that the regression model used is significant for the purpose of study. There are various approaches of hypothesis testing.
The probability value approach is one of the ways of conducting such tests. Usually, there are three confidence levels for any type of regression results obtained: 90%, 95% and 99%. The level of significance is usually given as 10%, 5% and 1% respectively. For this study, a confidence interval of 95% was employed. In the ten variable regression analysis, the p-value of all the variables is greater than 0.05. This means that regression results are not significant at 5% significant level. The null hypothesis was “not rejected”.
For the three variable regression model, the p-value of the regression results is less than 0.05. This implies that the regression results are significant at 5%. The null hypothesis in this case was “rejected”.
Conclusion
The research study found out that the increase in population has led to increase in urbanization thus the quality of life of people in these cities is affected. There is a relationship between population, married couples with children, educational attainment-enrolled in college or graduate school, employment (25 and over with bachelor’s degree), median household income, poverty, workers commuting by public transportation, households with no vehicles available and workers commuting by driving alone. This implies that the standard of living of people in the city is affected by changes in the population.
Works Cited
Baratz-Logsted, Lauren. Secrets of My Suburban Life. New York: Simon Pulse, 2008. Print. Suburban Life. Boston, Mass: Colonial Press, 2005. Print.
Kozol, Jonathan. Illiterate America. New York: New American Library. pp. 37–39. U.S.(1985)
Census Bureau today released the Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010
Adult Literacy in America, Third Edition (PDF), National Center for Educational Statistics, April 2002, retrieved 2011-01-12
