5.4 Who are the players that influence economic change in places? Flashcards
Who are players?
Players are individuals, groups of people or formal organisations who can influence, or can be influenced by, the processes of change.
What is economic change and how is it brought about?
Economic change is a complex process that affects places at a variety of scales, from local and neighbourhood through to an entire country. At any scale, change is brought about by the interaction of a considerable number of players or stakeholders.
What are some examples of public players?
Government
- EU is a transnational government which can influence economic change via grants for infrastructure development, for example.
- National government- education and training, major transport links and environmental management.
- Local government- planning and implementation at a local scale.
The government tries to stimulate economic growth, sustain existing employment and create new jobs and improve the environment.
What are some examples of private players?
Include a very wide range of different players and organisations.
- Businesses- TNC’s to those who are self-employed, all sectors of the economy. The primary aim of business players is to generate money to make a profit on their investment.
- Local communities- concerned about their immediate area. Interested in economic change, such as employment, and also social and environmental matters.
- NGO’s-
For the construction of a By-pass development near a market town, what are some examples of possible players involved?
- Retailers in town
- People living along the route of the present road through the town.
- Country wildlife trust
- Local emergency services (police/fire/ambulance)
- National road construction company- part of a TNC’s operations.
- People living along route of the new road
- Farmer- land purchased along the road’s route
- Local government- responsible for local transport planning
- National government- responsible for strategic transport planning
What is the history of Birmingham?
- Industrial background since 5th Century
- 1700s - Soho Manufactory
- Austin Car Plant and Dunlop Tyres in 19th/20th Centruy
Who are some players involved in the regeneration of Birmingham through economic change and their impacts?
EU:
- EU Social Investment Fund 2014-2020, to improve social housing and premises for SMEs, £235m
Canal and River Trust:
- In 2010 the charity regenerated Gas St. Basin and Brindley Place
HS2:
- £20bn high speed rail link between B’ham and London
Universities:
- 50,000 Students, youthful profile, brings wealth, big market
Local Government:
- Promoted city region, attracting inward investment for construction of National Exhibition Centre (NEC) and expansion of Birmingham International Airport (BIA).
- NEC (new exhibition centre) = 10,000 jobs
- East side rebranded as a ‘learning and technology quarter
National Government:
- 1999 New Deal for Communitites (NDCs) - The pilot programme is intended to give local communities a much greater influence in the way in which funds are used to achieve neighbourhood renewal.
- broadband access and work experience
most effective for long-term change, positive upward spiral of investment
- Helped 39 NDC areas covering, health & regeneration, employment & business, education & lifelong learning
- City Challenge and Single Regeneration Budget Schemes - funding for redevelopment
John Lewis:
- Grand Central shopping centre
created 1000 jobs, estimated 50m visitors per year.
- excitement and novelty may wear off, short-term boom
IMPACTS:
- encourages further investment
- Job creation
- social cohesion, improved living environment
- more tourism, inputs to economy
- high speed rail, access to further jobs in London and its associated wealth
What are some key facts and impacts of the deindustrialisation of Birmingham?
- Global recession of 1970s, 1973 oil crisis - Israeli war led to rising oil prices
- Birmingham’s industry suffered as they could not compete with overseas competition e.g Japanese car makers- Peugeot and Renault
- Frequent strikes in 70s made B’ham less attractive to potential investors
- Slum clearance destroyed many small industrial properties , new builds were unaffordable for start-ups
IMPACTS:
- cycle of decline
- less money created and less investment in the area
- unemployment
- family breakdowns and addiction problems
Post- Deindustrialisation Characteristics:
- industrial decline and decay:
- abandoned and dilapidated areas
- graffiti, vandalism and litter
- unemployment
What are the socioeconomic impacts of structural economic change on people and place in Birmingham?
- City dominated by services- 2020- 8% unemployed.
- Big gains in financial services, tourism and leisure.
- Since 1970’s local government has been implementing strategies to try to diversify Birmingham’s economy.
○ NEC- National exhibition centre
○ Expansion of Birmingham airport
○ This made it easy to attract
financial investment.
Planning and flagship development:
○ Hope to bring socio-economic benefits- centenary square, Victoria square and old town hall.
○ Flagships projects have been built in key locations- ICC (International conference centre) and symphony hall- EU funding- £50 million.
○ The ICC brings in income by hosting national and international conferences- Bill Clinton during G8 summit- international recognition for Birmingham.
○ Symphony hall- reimages Birmingham from a rundown city to an attractive one- national opera.
○ These flagship projects create a multiplier effect.
○ The bull ring centre was demolished and rebuilt- blobitecture (Selfridges)- flagship.
○ More services e.g.. Library in centenary square- flagships built close to each other.
- Canals have been cleaned- tourists now instead of industrial. National river trust.
Transport:
○ Is the hub of national motorway networks.
○ Is well connected to the rest of the country.
○ Birmingham new street has been regenerated with a shopping centre above it.
○ HS2- would link Birmingham to London- is a flagship development for the country to stop the north south divide.
○ Capital for growth- connected cities can become economic powerhouses.
○ Journey between Birmingham and London- 45 mins. At the moment is 1 1/2 hours.
○ Community groups, NGO’s and local governments play a part in this.
○ New station proposed for 2026.
○ Digbeth will be next to the station- city will spend time regenerating these areas.
HS2- 36,000 jobs,£1.4 billion in economic uplift.
What are some environmental impacts of structural economic change on people and place in Birmingham?
Funding from national schemes:
○ Development corporations in 1980- regenerating old industrial areas of Birmingham
○ Turned it into a star city-
- Replaced terrace housing to semi-detached housing
- New deals of communities scheme- government scheme to reduce deprivation at a national level
- City council gained funds from the EU for projects (EU social investment fund gave £235 million.
What are some demographic impacts of structural economic change on people and place in Birmingham?
- Has 3 main unis- 50,000 students. Changes the demographic- younger. As players increase the economy- houses, clubs etc.
What are some key aspects from Birmingham’s changing economic base?
- Between 1997-2010, manufacturing output in the Midlands dropped from £15.3bn to £11.8bn.
- Longbridge Plant once had 27,000 workers making cars such as Rovers, MG’s and Austins, but as of 2016 there are no longer any car production line based there. The chinese owners of MG have now moved the entirety of production to China.
- Following the decline of industry, much investment has gone into redeveloping the city centre as a retail, leisure and services hub.
- £500m redevelopment of the Bull Ring area, which finished in 2003.
- £600m revamp of New Street Station and the Grand Central shopping complex. - Over 50,000 people are employed in financial services in Birmingham. By rebranding and redeveloping the city it is hoped that Birmingham will attract workers in this sector who may have been attracted to London. Lloyds bank was established in Birmingham in 1765. Deloitte, PWC and Deutsche bank have offices in Birmingham.
- The Islamic Bank of Britain, the first sharia compliant retail bank is headquartered in Birmingham. - Birmingham is the “curry capital” of the UK, hundreds of curry houses and over 50 in the Balti triangle to the southeast of the city centre.
- Immigrants from Pakistan and Bangladesh have played a large role in establishing this culinary identity. - Jewellery quarter produces 40% of the UK’s jewellery. 6,000 people are employed across 400 jewellery making businesses.
