There are different ways to identify an MEDC. The term usually applies to places that have strong economies where most of the population enjoys a good standard of living. This means that they receive good education, health care, and employment opportunities.
Most MEDCs have secondary industries, such as manufacturing goods, and service industries, such as banking and insurance. Primary industries of mining, farming, and fishing are not usually as important to the economy.
Generally, people in MEDCs live in towns and cities rather than in the countryside. When people move out of the center of cities to enjoy more space on the outskirts (suburbs), the towns grow. The growth of towns and cities to accommodate the population is called urbanization. The area where a growing town merges into the countryside is called urban sprawl.
The United Kingdom became urbanized during the Industrial Revolution. About 80 percent of the population of the United Kingdom now lives in towns or cities. About 82 percent of the population of the United States now lives in towns or cities.
The center of a town or city in an MEDC is called the central business district. This is the region where most of the businesses operate. A good transport system is necessary to enable workers to travel from their homes to their places of work in the business district. The parts of towns where people live are described as residential.
