THE SUBURBAN BARRIADAS OF LIMA: SQUATTER SETTLEMENTS AS A TYPE OF PERIPHERAL URBAN GROWTH IN PERU.

During the past decade squatter settlements barriadas have become important kinds of urban growth in Lima. After a ten year period of development the barriada might be described as a lower-middle class community. These are suburban barriada as opposed to the former central city slums. These suburban barriada are low density, self-improving, inhabited by young couples with small children. Their motives for moving to the suburbs are to escape crime, crowding, noise, and the disadvantages of the central city. Daily commuting to the city is necessary and in the absence of automobiles, the communities are from necessity located along the main transportation arteries to the city. As extra-legal settlements, they are restricted largely to land which was previously unused and publicly owned. Thus, they are excluded from level land where irrigation is possible. Suburban barriadas tend to affirm the citys ability to absorb a staggering rate of migration and natural increase while maintaining a rising level of living for its inhabitants. They suggest a need to re-examine theories of over-urbanization which see migration to the cities are producing undesirable social consequences of poor housing, lower incomes, and an economically unwarranted re-allocation of labor. Author