They potentially allow differences between places to be shown for big groupings of people, and the bigger the groups, the more quickly or more cheaply robust statistics can be produced. These classifications allow us to study not just specific places, but ‘place’ in general. The aim of this paper is to apply seven recognised classifications to a variety of datasets to determine if differences and patterns exist in UK life according to how rural or urban a place is. The rural/urban classifications established for different nations and geographies within the UK present excellent opportunities to examine all these themes. Although the article does not look at change over time and the recent recession, there is an emphasis on household finances and working lives. Transport and access to services are the most obvious areas for study, and this article looks at these as well as population structures, education, health and the physical environment.
The topographic differences between town and country might be expected to lead to very different experiences for their residents. However, at least 60 per cent of the population is concentrated in these smaller urban areas. Whichever classification is used, for all four countries in the UK, less than one-third of the land area is classified as urban. It will also be of interest to those involved in local policy development and the allocation of resources within areas, as well as academics, journalists, researchers and members of the public with an interest in the classification and characteristics of rural and urban areas.ĭespite the continued spread of our towns and cities, the UK geographic landscape is still predominantly rural. This article will be of interest to those who wish to explore local authority or small area datasets, covering countries within the UK, for rural/urban differences, as well as those who wish to develop a greater understanding of rural/urban differences in general. This article shows that while no single rural/urban classification can be used for all geographies, using such a product helps to better understand the differing characteristics of rural and urban areas in a consistent, transparent way. Patterns within urban areas often differ, with the most urban areas of England frequently showing different trends from those in other places, and the widest variations. Using classifications that show sparse areas of England, some topics, such as incomes and qualifications, show ‘two countrysides’ – a better off, less sparse and more accessible one, and a less populous and isolated sparse countryside. Analysis indicates that house prices are less affordable to local workers in rural areas than urban areas and the costs, travel time and carbon emissions resulting from transport tend to be higher in rural areas.
In a few respects rural areas are worse off. There is quantitative evidence that rural areas are better off than urban areas on a number of different measures, such as unemployment and crime, but there are substantial differences within both rural and urban areas. This article compares rural and urban areas statistically for themes such as working, earnings, services and population, using geographical classifications.
Most people have a clear impression of what the cities, towns and countryside look like in the UK, both physically and in terms of the lives of the people who live there.
0 kommentar(er)
