The term pseudo-urbanization describes a situation where a geographical area undergoes an immediate development in terms of population and urban features, while there is no significant economic growth.
To put it differently, a place becomes “urban” much faster than the economy and infrastructure can catch up.
Key Indicators
Indications of pseudo-urbanization include the following features:

1. High population growth: Urban areas attract people from rural regions.
2. Lack of job opportunities: Few industries provide jobs for the increasing population.
3. Growth of informal economy: New arrivals work in informal sectors like peddling and casual labor.
4. Poor infrastructure: Insufficient housing, sanitation, and transportation for the growing population.
5. Emergence of informal settlements: Slums develop due to unaffordable housing.
6. Urban poverty and unemployment: Population growth outpaces economic development.
7. Insufficient urban planning: City growth is often chaotic and uncontrolled.
   Pseudo-urbanization vs. Urbanization

   Feature	Urbanization	Pseudo-Urbanization
   Population growth	Normal	Rapid growth
   Economic Growth	Matches population growth	Lags behind it
   Jobs	New jobs created	Limited job opportunities
   Infrastructure	Expanded	Insufficient
   Housing	Planned construction	Predominance of informal housing
   Planning	Organized	Disorganized
   Result	Structural transformation	No concern for changes

Readings:

March of Urbanization: A Temporal Overview

Defining Subaltern Urbanisation

Urban Dualism: The Concept

Entangled Urbanism: Visualising Urban Space as a Network of Interconnected Spaces

Urban Liveability: The Concept