ABSTRACT
The emergence and subsequent increase of social problems has often been associated with the growth of cities. To some extent this association is an inevitable consequence of the scale and intensity of urbanization, society’s problems become starkly evident within an urban environment as problems in the city mirror conditions in the society of which it is part. There is also an argument that some problems are products of the city and the set of conditions which urbanization creates; they are place-problems. Societies contain inequalities that find sharp expression in urban areas, conflicts arise as material and social aspirations are not matched by opportunities. This chapter focuses upon problems manifested in cities that include inequality, poverty, disadvantage and the many hazards of urban life. Some of these problems are as old as cities themselves, others are of recent origin. Although the emphasis here is on ‘social’ problems, economic structures and processes are always relevant, and underlying indicators, such as unemployment rates and investment trends, are critical.
