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Steiner Series: Megacities and Global Change / Megastädte und Globaler Wandel

Publication Series "Megacities and Global Change / Megastädte und Globaler Wandel"


Edited by Frauke Kraas, Jost Heintzenberg, Peter Herrle and Volker Kreibich

The series highlights the different aspects and challenges of megaurbanization in various geographical locations. With the different perspectives of authors coming from diverse disciplines (e.g. geography, spatial planning, environmental sciences, cultural sciences or public health) the series delivers new insights and an enhanced understanding of mega-urban development dynamics.

Basically a publication channel for the more encompassing scientific works of the Priority Program "Megacities-Megachallenge. Informal Dynamics of Global Change", the series is also open for quality contributions from other scientists working on various aspects of megaurbanization. The editors are warmly welcoming publication proposals, which however will be thouroughly reviewed.

Since 2011, the following volumes have been published in the series:

Bork-Hüffer, Tabea (2012): Migrants’ Health Seeking Actions in Guangzhou, China. Individual Action, Structure and Agency: Linkages and Change

Abstract:

Existing research on health seeking is characterized by an abundance of empirical studies and a lack of theoretical grounding. This book provides a new approach, a social theory that conceptualizes the various interlinkages and interdependencies of structure (e.g. regulation in health care and occupational systems, cultural norms and health beliefs), different types of agents (e.g. administration, health practitioners, NGOs, social organizations and networks) and individual action. It makes a substantial contribution to the social theory debate and expands existing approaches to health seeking with the concept of health seeking action. By providing a theoretical explanation of change it illustrates the impact of current dynamics in China.
The approach is applied to rural-to-urban migrants in Guangzhou, China. Migrants are a new and constantly growing segment of the population that has emerged in Chinese cities since the beginning of the reform era. Their lack of access to health care has resulted in various different alternative health seeking actions. A considerable number of factors that influence health seeking are identified that have not been considered in existing works.

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Müller, Annemarie (2012): Areas at Risk – Concept and Methods for Urban Flood Risk Assessment. A Case Study of Santiago de Chile

Abstract:

Urban expansion and associated land-use changes increase both flood hazards and exposure. This book provides a conceptual and methodological framework for the analysis of urban flood risk in dynamic and complex settings, and proposes a comprehensive, system-oriented, integrated approach for its assessment.
The risk assessment is carried out using case-specific indicators on the sub-city scale in two municipalities of Santiago de Chile. Relevant information is derived from various geodata sources, and together with explorative scenarios, is used to estimate future risk development. All data about hazard, elements at risk, and their vulnerability are compiled to a GIS-based risk map to join the risk-relevant components, to show their interrelations, and to provide a tool for monitoring and evaluating their changes over time. Finally, previous deficits in flood risk prevention and mitigation are outlined and recommendations on risk reduction are made.

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Butsch, Carsten (2011): Zugang zu Gesundheitsdienstleistungen. Barrieren und Anreize in Pune, Indien

Abstract:

Durch den raschen Urbanisierungsprozess in Schwellen- und Entwicklungsländer entstehen Gesundheitsprobleme in bisher unbekanntem Ausmaß. Meist werden städtische Räume in diesen Ländern vereinfachend als ausreichend versorgt beschrieben. Dieser Sichtweise wird hier eine differenzierte Untersuchung des Zugangs von unterschiedlichen Bevölkerungsgruppen entgegengesetzt.
Aufbauend auf einer Analyse etablierter Konzepte der Zugangsforschung wird ein erweitertes Konzept entwickelt: Zugang wird als Produkt von Zugangsbarrieren und -anreizen in sechs Dimensionen definiert.
Das Konzept wird in sechs unterschiedlich strukturierten Untersuchungsgebieten in Pune empirisch überprüft. Die Ergebnisse der Studie lassen auf erhebliche Unterschiede im Zugang zu Gesundheitsdienstleistungen verschiedener Bevölkerungsgruppen schließen: Wesentliche Zugangsbarrieren entstehen durch die komplexe Anbieterstruktur im indischen Gesundheitssystem und die fehlende Regulierung des Gesundheitswesens. Dies resultiert in einer vielfach inadäquaten Leistungserbringung, häufig mit negativen Konsequenzen für die Nutzer.
Die Studie leistet zudem einen konzeptionellen Beitrag im Bereich der interdisziplinären Zugangsforschung.

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Meyer, Susanne (2011): Informal Modes of Governance in Customer Producer Relations. The Electronic Industry in the Greater Pearl River Delta (China)

Abstract:

The Greater Pearl River Delta (China) is one of the world’s mega-city regions. Its electronics industry is an important driver for economic growth and prosperity in China with firms that are highly flexible and quickly adapting to changing markets.
The objective of this volume is to understand how informal modes of governance in customer and producer relations contribute to a flexible production network. It investigates whether informal interactions make up for constantly changing formal regulations in China or smooth business operations as an innovative mean to manage a firm’s network.
The findings show that firms in the Greater Pearl River Delta organise their network by using a combination of formal and informal means in recruiting, contracting and enforcing processes. This research contributes to a better understanding of the complex business model in China and its implications for organisational novelty as such.

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