3.b

Question 1

What measures have been put in place to ensure rural areas are supported by the government?

Answer 1

The UK government supports rural areas through the key settlement policy. Services such as education, healthcare, employment and housing have been concentrated in large villages and towns. These places act as hubs for people living in surrounding smaller settlements. However, as personal mobility is increased, rural residents no longer rely exclusively on their nearest key settlements.

Question 2

Which groups are often missed out on health care provision? What factors have contributed to an inequality in healthcare provision?

Answer 2

The provision of healthcare services varies. For example, inner cities and remote rural areas are short of GPs and other healthcare workers. Other areas such as affluent suburbs are well served.

Question 3

Outline why spending on pensions has increased in recent years. Why has this been necessary?

Answer 3

Spending on pensions in the UK has almost doubled in the past dozen years due to increasing life expectancy and ageing population. As a result the age at which people can draw their state pension is rising.

Question 4

In reference to the 5 ways that the UK government tackles inequality, what does education do?

Answer 4

Education programmes designed to improve personal health (e.g. diet/obesity/smoking) are often targeted at the poorest groups in society. The UK government provides funding for training and upgrading skills in order to raise skill levels and qualifications; improve employment prospects and boost economic growth.

Question 5

In reference to the 5 ways that the UK government tackles inequality, what does the law do?

Answer 5

Legislation exists in the UK which outlaws discrimination on racial, ethnic, gender and age criteria; and aims to give equal opportunities to all groups. The poorest groups of workers are protected by the minimum wage legislation.

Question 6

In reference to the 5 ways that the UK government tackles inequality, what does planning do?

Answer 6

Planning targets the most deprived areas which vary in scale from neighbourhood, to entire regions. Priority is given to upgrading housing and services in the poorest areas e.g. the rundown inner-city locations in ACs.

Question 7

In reference to the 5 ways that the UK government tackles inequality, what are subsidies?

Answer 7

Subsidies are given to poorer groups. They can be used to reduce inequality by the addition of: free school meals, university fees etc. Pensioners may have subsidies for fuel and transport. Single-parents, unemployed, long-term disabilities -> all get benefits from the government.

Question 8

In reference to the 5 ways that the UK government tackles inequality, what is taxation?

Answer 8

Taxation is used to redistribute wealth from more prosperous to less prosperous groups, in order to create a fairer society. Progressive tax systems, where the better-off pay a larger proportion of their income tax.

Question 9

What are the 5 ways that the UK government tackles inequality?

Answer 9

The 5 ways that the UK government tackles inequality are: taxation, subsidies, planning, law, and education.

Question 10

Does everyone benefit from the strong economic health of the Silicon Valley?

Answer 10

Many production line workers are not paid more than the states minimum wage. Manufacture involves health risks -> exposure to toxic chemicals. Female migrants from Asia and Latin America.

Question 11

What is venture capital?

Answer 11

Venture capital is capital invested in a project in which there is a substantial element of risk, typically a new or expanding business.

Question 12

How is Silicon Valley able to support technological innovation?

Answer 12

Stanford University has close links with much of the research being carried out. Supplies high-quality graduates. Venture capital.

Question 13

Where is Silicon Valley?

Answer 13

In the area around the Southern part of San Francisco Bay, California.

Question 14

What is the named example of an economic boom?

Answer 14

Named example of Economic Boom - Silicon Valley

Question 15

Why are some people more able to cope with a recession than others?

Answer 15

The more skilled someone is the more employment opportunities they are likely to have. Households cut back on non-essentials.

Question 16

Why are some places able to support technological innovations, whilst others are not?

Answer 16

Technical innovation is not evenly distributed. Core regions -> multiplier effect. Role of education, government, and social organisations.

Question 17

How is technological innovation linked to booms and recessions?

Answer 17

The cycles of growth and stagnation have been linked to technological innovation, with new industries providing the basis for a boom. Once the technology is no longer ‘new’, fewer opportunities for growth exist and boom is followed by recession.

Question 18

How does the Capitalist economic system operate? What time frame?

Answer 18

The Capitalist economic system operates in a series of interconnected cycles. These have taken place roughly every 50 years since 1750.

Question 19

What is a capitalist system?

Answer 19

The socioeconomic system, in which production of goods and services takes place to generate and profit. A key driving force is people’s desire for gain and self-interest.

Question 20

What is a recession?

Answer 20

A recession is a slowdown or decline in economic activity. Macroeconomic indicators such as GDP, investment spending, household income, business profits and inflation fall, while bankruptcies and unemployment rise.

Question 21

What is a boom? What does a boom result in?

Answer 21

A boom is a period of rapid economic expansion resulting in higher GDP, lower unemployment and rising asset prices.

Question 22

What are 2 positive impacts of economic change on people and place within an EDC/ LIDC?

Answer 22

1.) Higher export-generated income promotes export-led growth-thus promotes investment in productive capacity. 2.) Can trickle down to local areas with many new highly paid jobs.

Question 23

What are 2 positive impacts of economic change on people and place within an AC?

Answer 23

1.) Greater efficiency apparent in surviving outlets. This can release labour for higher productivity sectors (this assumes low unemployment). 2.) Growth in LIDCs may lead to a demand for exports from ACs.

Question 24

What are 2 negative impacts of economic change on people and place within an EDC/ LIDC?

Answer 24

1.) Disruptive social impacts, e.g. role of TNCS potentially exploitative and may lead to sweatshops. Also branch plants may move on in LIDCS too, leading to instability (e.g. in Philippines). 2.) Can destabilise food supplies, as people give up agriculture.

Question 25

What are 2 negative impacts of economic change on people and place within an AC?

Answer 25

1.) Job losses are invariably concentrated in certain areas and certain industries. This can lead to deindustrialisation and structural unemployment in certain regions. 2.) Branch plants are particularly vulnerable as in times of economic recession they are the first to close, often with large numbers of job losses.

Question 26

How has Birmingham Research Park impacted on the place of Birmingham?

Answer 26

It was able to transform the health of our citizens by accelerating the development, as well as the adoption of healthcare innovation. The Park is a thriving and vibrant community enabling companies to gain competitive advantage from access to the world-class knowledge base. This adds to their service sector - tertiary employment.

Question 27

How has Birmingham Research Park created opportunities for people?

Answer 27

People able to start small businesses. Small businesses are able to expand and grow. Biotechnology - people are able to use specific laboratories (conditions) e.g. sterile manufacturing environments.

Question 28

Outline the 2 key purposes of the Birmingham Research Park: include specific details.

Answer 28

Join venue between Birmingham University and Birmingham City Council. Designed to attract research-led companies wishing to work in partnership with academic staff. Park is developing in biohub, the heart of the Edgbaston Medical Quarter. This includes e.g. Dental Science, Queen Elizabeth etc.

Question 29

What is the knowledge economy?

Answer 29

The knowledge economy is a system of consumption and production based on intellectualisation.

Question 30

What main problem did Birmingham face? What is this?

Answer 30

Deindustrialisation = the reduction of industrial activity or capacity in a region or economy.

Question 31

What was the traditional focus of Birmingham’s economic activity? What is this?

Answer 31

‘Metal bashing’ -> manufacturing of a wide variety of metal products; screws, nuts, bolts.

Question 32

Suggest how the concept of ‘comparative advantage’ has led to opportunities in named countries.

Answer 32

Bangalore in South Central India has become a centre for aerospace engineering and IT development.

Question 33

Explain how the concept of comparative advantage can be applied to manufacturing.

Answer 33

Specialist high-tech industries -> aerospace, pharmaceuticals and biotechnology.

Question 34

What is a comparative advantage?

Answer 34

A comparative advantage occurs when an industry is able to perform an economic activity more efficiently than another activity.

Question 35

Using an example, show how the effect of positive economic change on a place may happen - the multiplier effect.

Answer 35

Some places have been regenerated e.g. BIRMINGHAM, UK. During the 1970s and 1980s there was investments by TNCs in the EU, especially the UK e.g. HITACHI Rail and Japanese TNCs investing in new car assembly. Training and employment grew, (multiplier effect). This represented a huge opportunity for people and places.

Question 36

What are 2 positive impacts on structural economic change for EDCs?

Answer 36

2 positive impacts on structural economic change for EDCs could include: Can reduce negative trade balance. Can lead to exposure of new technology.

Question 37

What are 2 positive impacts on structural economic change for ACs?

Answer 37

2 positive impacts on structural economic change for ACs could include: Growth in LIDCs may lead to export demands in ACs. Loss of mining and manufacturing industries can lead to improve environment quality.

Question 38

What are 2 negative impacts on structural economic change for EDCs?

Answer 38

2 negative impacts on structural economic change for EDCs could include: Can lead to overdependence on a narrow economic base. Can destabilise food supplies, as people give up agriculture.

Question 39

What are 2 negative impacts on structural economic change for ACs?

Answer 39

2 negative impacts on structural economic change for ACs could include: Job losses are common for unskilled workers. Employment gains from new efficiencies only occur if industrialised countries keep wage demands down.

Question 40

What did the economic restructuring leave behind? E.g. in Birmingham

Answer 40

Economic restructuring can leave behind poorer physical environments - abandoned/ derelict buildings. Polluted land and waterways.

Question 41

Why was the economic restructuring from primary and secondary sectors in areas such as Birmingham significant to employment?

Answer 41

Economic restructuring from primary and secondary sectors in areas such as Birmingham were significant to employment - as skills required by the heavy industry not transferable to the service sector.

Question 42

Name 2 places that were heavily reliant on heavy industry?

Answer 42

2 places that were heavily reliant on heavy industry include Liverpool and Birmingham.

Question 43

Outline the rough timeline of economic change at a global scale.

Answer 43

TNCs and nation states are key players in the global economy. Relationships amongst TNCs and between TNCs and countries, drive changes that impact the lives of billions of people. One major consequence of globalisation is global shift. The relocation of manufacturing production on a global scale. 50 years ago manufacturing took place in Western Europe and North America. Raw materials e.g. copper and coffee were exported by countries such as Zambia and Brazil, which had limited manufacturing ability. From the 1980s the New International Division of Labour (NIDL) got stronger. European, Northern American and Japanese TNCs created labour intensive factories in what were called “Newley Industrialised Countries” (EDCs). Containerisation/ bulk handling brought down the cost and contributed to locational changes. With economic restructuring came the loss of employment in the primary and secondary sectors as the comparative advantages of ACs in these activities declined. ACs transformed into post-industrial societies in which most people worked in the tertiary and quaternary sectors.

Question 44

What 5 things has globalisation led to the increase of?

Answer 44

5 things has globalisation led to the increase of could include: flows of ideas, capital, goods, services and people.

Question 45

What drives globalisation?

Answer 45

Globalisation is driven by economic change across all scales: global to local.

Question 46

Is economic change caused by technology, politics and progress a regular feature?

Answer 46

Economic change caused by technology, politics and progress is a regular feature of history.

Question 47

What is economic change? What does it result in?

Answer 47

Economic change is a shift in the structure of an economic system. This results in changes to societies, cultures and everyday life on a global or national basis.