Cities - Urban decline

Urban decline is when a decrease in economic activity in an urban area causes it to become run down.

Characteristics

• Poor quality housing
• Derelict buildings
• High unemployment
• High levels of pollution

Causes

• Deindustrialisation
• Outmigration of wealthier people 
• Recession
• Polarised economic growth
• Suburbanisation
• Crime
• Poor education
• Lack of ethnic integration