5 - UK's human landscape and London Flashcards
(25 cards)
What are the characteristics of the urban cores within the UK? (population density, demographics, economic activity)
- higher population density
- younger population (young, skilled workers migrate/ immigrate to urban areas for opportunities)
- higher concentration of economic activity, as there are more job opportunities, which are better paid in the tertiary/ quarternary sectors
What are the characteristics of the rural areas within the UK? (population density, demographics, economic activity)
- sparsely populated
- older population (retirees move to rural areas for peace, quiet)
- lower economic activity, more primary industry, but there is seasonal tourism, and can turn into commuter towns
How have the UK and EU policies worked to reduce inequalities between rural and urban areas?
-
creating enterprise zones
(UK gvt offers companies benefits e.g. reduced taxes, simpler planning rules, which can be put into rural areas of high unemployment) -
transport infrastructure
(UK gvt has plans to link London to less prominent rural areas further North, promoting jobs there) -
regional development
(while UK was EU member, EU used ERDF to promote growth in poorer rural areas by investing in small high tech businesses)
How has national and international migration altered the population geography of the UK?
- half of the UK’s population growth is due to natural increase; the other half is due to migration
- the UK’s population is younger in urban areas, as young migrants move to major cities for employment opportunities
- the UK’s population is older in rural areas, as retirees move to more rural areas
- it is bigger: net migration constantly on the rise due to pull factors
How have the EU’s and UK’s immigration policies affected the population and its diversity?
- after WW2, UK encouraged immigration from commonwealth countries to fill shortages in the UK Workforce
- later entry was restricted but work permits for migrants with desirable skills were made avaliable (so increase of asian ethnicity + carribean from earlier)
- since 1995 EU allowed free movement of people within member countries to find work
- in 2004, Poland e.g. joined EU, so lots of polish migration
INCREASED DIVERSITY OVERALL
What caused the decline of the primary and secondary sectors within the UK, and the increase of the tertiary and quarternary sectors?
- primary: farming is more mechanised, and mining declined in the UK due to competition from abroad
- secondary: global shift, competition from abroad, cheaper labour sources, cheaper products from elsewhere
- tertiary and quarternary: services sector has boomed, as more people have higher disposable income, able to afford more services, making use of skilled graduates.
How has the decline of primary and secondary industries (caused by global shift) and the increase of tertiary and quartenary sectors affected urban areas?
- global shift towards these sectors means urban areas have had to adapt, where unemployment is reduced through promoting FDI
- the economic focus is on the tertiary and quarternary sectors
How has the decline of primary and secondary industries (caused by global shift) and the increase of tertiary and quartenary sectors affected rural areas?
- global shift made unemployment sky high, but lack of FDI and investment leaves rural areas behind, with low economic activity, but the economic focus is more towards tertiary sector.
What are the ways FDI can impact a country?
- it is the process of a company based in another country investing in a country
- it can be through acquiring land or buildings to locate their offices
- it can be through buying existing companies
How has globalisationaffected FDI in the UK?
- process of countries becoming more integrated
- transport and communication links are improved
- London has become a global finance hub
- this increased FDI in the UK
How has privatisation affected FDI in the UK?
- services previously run by the UK government are offered to private firms
- it increased FDI, as foreign firms have more potential to invest
How has free trade policies affected FDI in the UK?
- reduces import and export restrictions, easier for countries to trade
- EU promotes free trade between member countries (more FDI from EU countries when UK was in the EU)
- after leaving the EU, UK negotiated new free trade agreements, attracting investors from non EU countries
How has the role of TNCs affected the UK?
(+) job opportunities created
(+) potential for large scale projects, the UK can’t afford e.g. infrastructure projects
(+) TNCs lead the way in developing new products
(-) over reliance on TNCs (global recessions hit hard)
(-) big effects if TNCs choose to relocate/change suppliers
(-) local businesses struggle to compete against TNCs
What is the site, situation and connectivity of London? How has it helped London grow?
- site: flat floodplain of the River Thames, close to the sea
- situation: close to the River Thames: Trade potential
- connectivity: heathrow international airport, extensive TFL, Eurostar
- London is a global financial hub, with global influence as a multicultural city, as a result of this
What does the land-use and structure of London’s CBD and inner city look like?
- CBD: London has multiple CBDs, e.g. City of London. It is mainly commercial, with a mix of historical and high rise densely packed buildings, with high air pollution
- Inner City: old industrial areas which are now residential (rundown or redeveloped), high density, with varying air quality e.g. Chelsea, mix of old and redeveloped housing
What does the land-use and structure of London’s suburbs and urban-rural fringe look like?
- suburbs: residential areas with large open green spaces, good environmental quality, e.g. Kingston, 20th centry semidetached housing, lower density buildings
- urbanrural fringe: residential areas, low density, large detached housing, good environmental quality e.g. Hillingdon, or industrial/commerical, manufacturing or large retail parks
What are some of the causes of migration, which influence London’s growth?
- population growth: international and national migration is causing London’s population growth, due to London’s employment opportunties, pull factors e.g. status as global hub for finance, fashion
- economic growth: migration as skilled workers migrating to London, so the workforce is larger, and London’s economy is more productive
What are the changes in London’s character as a result of migration?
- age: inner London is younger, as immigrants are of working age
- ethnicity: lots of diversity due to immigration, forming ethnic enclaves, e.g. southall as primarly south asian
- housing: immigration adds to overcrowding, house prices in inner city
- culture: culturally diverse, distinct areas of character e.g. Chinatown
What are the reasons for inequality in London? (inequalities in services, health, education, employment)
- services: rapid population growth puts pressure on services e.g. health and education, and finding services in deprived areas is hard, as less money is funding them, with less money collected in taxes
- employment: population growth makes finding employment harder, and so leads to unemployment, making an area more deprived
- health: unhealthy lifestyles are more common in deprived areas, due to convenience and lower prices
- education: poorer families put children in underperforming state schools, cycle of poverty
How and why have areas of London seen decline?
- London’s East End saw the decline of the docks and manufacturing industries, led to unemployment
- led to depopulation
- people were able to move to London’s suburbs due to transport improvement, and were attracted by nicer environments, less pollution, more space (inner city decline)
- businesses, retail, industry followed, decentralisation
- e.g. Bluewater shopping centre
- increased use of ecommerce, means businesses can locate in cheaper areas
How and why have areas of London experienced economic and population growth?
- economic growth in Canary Wharf: focus on tertiary and quartenary sectors, setting up the enterprise zone, led to the establishment of global finance hub there
- gentrification and studentification in Shoreditch, it was in decline, low prices meant students moved in, seen as cool, richer people moved in, improved infrastructure
- urban sprawl of rural urban fringe with better env quality
- leisure and culture, ethnic enclaves more desirable to live in
What are the positives and negative rebranding and regeneration bring?
- rebranding is improving a place’s image, regeneration is making improvements
(+) population growth, benefitting owners of services
(+) increasing property values, wealth of current owners increase
(+) business opportunities for companies involved in regeneration
(-) displace existing residents, as properties too expensive
(-) social conflict between exisiting residents and newcomers
Greenwich Millenium Village, sustainable redev project
What are some different strategies to make urban living more sustainable?
- recycling: Fewer resources wasted
- employment: more opportunties, reduces poverty
- green spaces: env benefits, full factors for econ. growth
- transport: congestion charges, bike lanes, affordable public transport
- housing: insulated housing, locally sources materials
What are the ways rural areas are interdependent on urban areas?
- Princes Risborough, provides affordable housing for commuters to live in, London provides specialist services, excellent hospitals
- London relies on surrounding areas for food, Princes R people travel into London for shopping (Goods)
