Land use in LEDCs

Both MEDCMEDC: A More Economically Developed Country [MEDC] has high levels of development, based on economic indicators, such as gross domestic product (the country's income). More of the countries in the northern hemisphere are MEDCs, eg UK, USA, Canada, Europe. More of the countries in the southern hemisphere are Less Economically Developed Countries [LEDCs]. and LEDCLEDC: A Less Economically Developed Country [LEDC] has low levels of development, based on economic indicators, such as gross domestic product (the country's income). More of the countries in the southern hemisphere (eg countries in southern Africa, southern Asia and South America) are LEDCs, while more of the countries in the northern hemisphere are More Economically Developed Countries [MEDCs]. cities have a CBDCBD: Central Business District - often the oldest part of the city.

In LEDCs the poorest housing is found on the edge of the city - in contrast to MEDC cities whose suburban fringe is very often a place of high quality housing. The areas of poor quality housing found on the edge of cities in LEDCs are called squatter settlements or shanty towns.

Land use in Sao Paulo, Brazil

Sao Paulo - shanty town

Sao Paulo - the city centre

Although every LEDC city has its own characteristics (like those in MEDCs) geographers put together models to illustrate a 'typical' LEDC city. Such a model is shown below:

Model of LEDC city