4.a Flashcards
What is a player?
An individual or organisation with an interest and or influence in actions, decisions or operations of an organisation. Also known as a stakeholder.
What is economic change?
A complex process that affects places at a variety of scales, from local through to an entire country. At any scale, change is brought about by the interaction of a considerable number of players (stakeholders).
What are 3 examples of public players?
The EU, the UK Government, Salisbury City Council.
What are 4 examples of private players?
TNCs, self-employed people, NGOs, and local communities.
How is the EU a public player?
The EU: A trans-national government which can influence economic change for example via grants for infrastructure development.
How is the UK Government a public player?
The national government has departments and agencies responsible for strategic planning such as education and training. Major transport links and environmental management.
How is Salisbury City Council a public player?
Salisbury City Council. Has similar responsibilities to the national government and carries out the planning and implementation at the local scale.
Give 3 examples of TNCs.
McDonalds, Shell, Nike.
Give an example of an NGO.
The National Trust
How is a local community a private player?
Concerned about their immediate area. Interested in economic change, such as employment and also social an environmental issues e.g. construction of new housing estates.
What is the primary aim for private players?
Private players include a very wide range of different people and organisations. Businesses range from TNCs to those who are self-employed and across all sectors in the economy. The primary aim of private players is to generate money to make a profit on their investment.
What do public players, such as the UK Government, do?
The government tries to stimulate economic growth, sustain existing employment and create new jobs and improve the environment.
For a named example (the construction of a bypass around Salisbury), name 2 ways in which public players may be involved.
EU: funding as part of a regional aid package. National government: responsible for strategic transport planning.
For a named example (the construction of a bypass around Salisbury), name 2 ways in which private players may be involved.
Retailer’s in town. People living along route of the new road.
When were steam engines introduced to Birmingham? What players did this?
Steam engines were introduced to Birmingham in 1775 by Boulton and Watt.
Name 3 early inventions within Birmingham.
Cotton machines, electro-plating facilities, and the pneumatic tyre.
When was the original (first) medical x-ray introduced to Birmingham?
1896.
Who was the main player in 12th century Birmingham? What role did they play? What economic activity did they use?
Players: De Birmingham Family. Role: lots of small scale markets. Economic activity: trade.
How many streets were in medieval Birmingham? What main feature did they have?
1/2 a dozen streets. Parish and market towns.
What primary type of work took place in medieval Birmingham? What was the area nicknamed? Who supplied the raw materials?
Metal working and smelting -> black county/ black country e.g. places like Dudley and Wolverhampton (supplied raw materials).
In medieval Birmingham, what was the main source of power? What was this predominantly used for?
Power of water e.g. mills -> non-agricultural products such as sword blades.
What happened in 16th century Birmingham?
English Historian William Camden. Stated that he saw streets that were swarming with people. He heard sounds of anvils. He heard power from the watermills.
In the 18th century (start of Industrial revolution), what was the population? What key player was involved? What role did he play?
Population: 15,000 people. Economic change. Key player: Matthew Boulton. Role: Moved the industrial base of the town forward -> established first factory in 1761 (‘Soho Manufactory’ brought 700 employees).
What industry grew in 19th century Birmingham?
Growth of industry: gun, jewellery, button, and brass industries.
What happened in 19th century Birmingham regarding its importance of transport infrastructure?
Importance of transport infrastructure: Birmingham at heart of national canal network and the midland terminus of the London to Birmingham Railway (1838).
What new industries arrived in Birmingham between the 1900s and 1950s.
Dunlop tyre company. Austin car plant.
Briefly outline Dunlop Tyre Company (emerged in Birmingham 1900-1950).
Dunlop tyre company -> large factory -> employed 10,000 by 1950s.
Briefly outline Austin Car Plant (emerged in Birmingham 1900-1950).
Austin car plant -> Longbridge (1906) -> vehicle industry.
What was the percentage split of economic growth in 1900-1950s Birmingham?
Economic growth: 50% metals, misc 19.4%, commerce 12%.
What was population growth like in 1900-1950s Birmingham?
Population growth: continuous, sustained, immigration from rural areas and other parts of the British Isles e.g. Ireland.
What was the housing like in 1900-1950s Birmingham?
Housing: small, as they were built for workers.
What transport innovations were introduced in 1900-1950s Birmingham?
Transport innovations: trams, suburban railways. Buses and cars followed on later.
In Birmingham, what were unemployment rates like before 1970? What about after?
Below 1%, and after it was 19.4%
In Birmingham, what were the types of jobs like before 1970? What about after?
Before = metal goods: 28.4%, law/health/education: 22.4%. After = metal goods: 5.8%, law/health/education: 31.1%.
In Birmingham, what was the environmental quality like before 1970? What about after?
Before it was bad, but it is getting increasingly better.
Why did economic change occur in Birmingham?
Occurred through the interaction of several players. Birmingham caught in the global recession of the 1970s. Oil crisis of 1973 was the most significant.
Which key players were involved in the economic change? (The role of Geopolitics)
Middle East -> fragile: resulted in another Arab-Israeli war. -> oil supplies weaponised -> oil price increased (Saudi Arabia). Most western countries support Israel. Catastrophic shock of the global system, planning and policy assumed energy to be cheap for the foreseeable future.
Which key players were involved in the economic change? (The role of TNCs)
Birmingham’s traditional industries were already beginning to suffer from increasing overseas competition (TNCs) -> based in countries with lower production costs. This was part of the global shift in economic structure to which the oil crisis gave added impetus.
What happened to car ownership in Birmingham from 1970-2010?
It increased.
Why did the car manufacturing industry decline in the 1970s?
Foreign-based TNCs, and in particular Japanese car manufacturers began to make significant in-roads into the British car market -> their products were seen as more reliable and better value for money -> gained wider acceptance from e.g. Renault, VW.
