Land use in LEDCs

Although every 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). city has its own characteristics, models can be used to illustrate a typical LEDC city.

Model of an LEDC city

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). and LEDC cities have a CBD [CBD: The Central Business District, usually in the centre of a town or city. This area will typically have good transport links and contain a large number of shops and offices. ] - 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

The below pictures show two very different areas of Sao Paulo in Brazil - the CBD [CBD: The Central Business District, usually in the centre of a town or city. This area will typically have good transport links and contain a large number of shops and offices. ] and an outer-lying shanty town.

Sao Paulo - the city centre

Sao Paulo - shanty town

The CBD and high-class sector

The CBD in an LEDC looks very similar to a CBD in an MEDC. However, there is likely to be a more dramatic difference between the height of the buildings in the CBD and the height of the buildings in other zones.

The CBD contains facilities such as department stores, hotels, offices, schools, theatres and cinemas.

High-class housing can be found around the edge of the CBD and in a spine radiating out towards the edge of the urban area. This is likely to be a main transport route and a desirable street, possibly a former colonial area. People living here will need easy access to the CBD. Transport networks in LEDCs are not as well developed as MEDCs so the journey to work is a major consideration when deciding where to live.

The high-class housing will be a mixture of old colonial houses and large apartments, both of which will have space for servants.

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