6. NYC World City Flashcards
What are World Cities?
World Cities are cities that have an economic, cultural and political significance beyond the boundaries of their own countries.
By which factor are World Cities ranked and defined?
World Cities are defined by their influence rather than their size, though there is a strong ‘pull’ to these cities.
They exist at the top of a hierarchy of cities.
Why are World Cities attract educated and skilled workers?
World cities are business centres and the preferred headquarter locations of major TNCs
They are global service centres, specialising in advanced producer services such as:
- finance
- banking
- accounting
- management consultancy
- law
- advertising
In order to deliver these services to global markets, world cities are major telecom, information and transport hubs.
Skilled and educated workers are qualified to work in these industries and so move to World cities to pursue careers.
Are world cities purely economic powerhouses?
No - world cities often have a political and cultural dimension to them as they:
- House foreign embassies, consulates and international organisations
- Host international sporting events such as the Olympics
- Support a wide range of performing arts venues, museums and galleries.
How does the growth of TNCs encourage the development of world cities?
- Global brands establish themselves in cities with greater professional, financial and creative services
- Production of goods is dispersed to places with cheap labour (i.e. cities in LIC/MICs) and attract rural-urban migration to these cities
Which developments in transport and communication have facilitated the growth of world cities?
From the 1980s onwards, computerisation and the internet allowed cities providing services to have direct and immediate links with cities across the globe.
Transport has also been made easier, especially through containerisation and accessibility of international aviation.
Which other factors besides the growth of communications and TNCs have encouraged the development of world cities?
- Demographic trends - increasing populations due to large-scale rural-urban migration in some cities
- Cultural status - important in their overall attraction to tourists
- Political importance - many are capital cities with high levels of infrastructure and investment
Where did the first world cities originate and why?
London and NYC developed as the first world cities.
Many others developed in western HICs due to:
- Good communication and transport infrastructure
- Strong economies (often strengthened through colonialism)
- Political influence through international-scale organisations e.g. UN, World Bank, IMF etc.
How have world city trends developed more recently?
More recently, world cities have emerged in newly-industrialising countries (NICs) particularly in Asia
- e.g. Shanghai and Beijing jumped from being Alpha - cities in 2004 to Alpha + in 2008
This has been enabled by strong population growth and rural-urban migration, economic transition and growth and political engagement on the world stage.
- Cultural influences are also important e.g. Beijing Olympics 2008 and Winter Olympics 2022
What is a possible trend for the future development of world cities?
In the future, possible world cities may emerge from MICs on the African continent - Lagos, Johannesburg.
What might happen to Moscow as it suffers economic sanctions following conflict in Ukraine and TNCs pull out?
How many people live in New York City and New York State?
Around 8 million people live in New York City
Around 18 million people live in New York State
How did migration contribute to the growth of NYC?
- Migration in the 19th century grew the population from around 122,000 in 1820 to 516,000 in 1850
- Great Migration from 1914-1932 further increased population
How did historical factors contribute to the growth of NYC?
- NYC was one of the first places to be settled by Europeans 400 years ago.
- Ellis island was the main route of entry for migrants that followed in the 19th and 20th centuries.
- Urban planning in the 1800s established a grid iron street layout (as opposed to a more organic layout when first established as New Amsterdam)
How did physical factors contribute to the growth of NYC?
- NYC harbour is ice-free, experiences little fog and does not require dredging.
- The tidal range is also small so ships can arrive and depart 24hrs a day.
- New York is also located at the seaward end of the Hudson river, and has good access both to the Great Lakes as well as New York state, making it an excellent position for trade.
How did trade / economic factors contribute to the growth of NYC?
As New York has a nodal position (at a point of concentration of communications) it has developed into a major commercial, financial and industrial centre.
This has been emphasised by the massive internal market in New York’s hinterland of over 140 million people.
New York has access both to the New York Stock Exchange and the NASDAQ, the two largest stock exchanges in the world, worth $20 and $10 trillion each!
How are high land prices a problem resulting from the growth of NYC?
In the central areas (especially the CBD districts of Manhattan), land prices are so high that only highly successful firms can locate here e.g. large banks and giant oil corporations.
Many smaller companies have been forced out, and even larger companies are seeking cheaper and more environmentally attractive sites.
How is urban decay a problem resulting from the growth of NYC?
Many areas of inner city housing such as Harlem were built in the late 19th Century. These tenement blocks, flats and terraced housing suffered through years of neglect.
- Some of the worst areas even became ‘ghettos’ = overcrowded, few properties have sanitation facilities
- This forwards income-based residential segregation
How is the situation of immigrants a problem resulting from the growth of NYC?
America has always welcomed a large number of immigrants, but has not always been able to offer them equal opportunities.
Over a period of time, many immigrants find jobs and, as their wealth increases, are able to move away from the poorest areas, leaving them vacant for the next wave of immigrants.
Immigrants who cannot find work / only find low-wage work may find themselves trapped in a vicious cycle of poverty.
In 1990, estimates suggested that there were over 50,000 homeless people in NYC, most in Manthattan.
How is traffic congestion a problem resulting from the growth of NYC?
Each morning up to 2 million commuters travel into Manhattan. At night, this direction is reversed.
- About 75% of commuters travel by public transport, mainly via the subway.
- Subway ridership nearly doubled from 1 billion annual riders in the 1980s to 1.8 billion in 2020.
A growing population increases the strain on the limited transport network - even the rivers are covered by bridges, boats and tunnels, as well as reducing the potential space for transport infrastructure.
How is unemployment a problem resulting from the growth of NYC?
During the 1980s up to 1.5 million New Yorkers (1/7 of the city’s population) were unemployed.
This was mainly due to the decline in the port and its associated industries, as well as in the clothing industry.
New industries tend to be high-tech and in finance - jobs that require skills not possessed by many of the unemployed.
How is crime a problem resulting from the growth of NYC?
By the late 1980s, crime had arguably become New York’s greatest problem.
Street violence, subway muggings, drug-related crimes and murder (on average, one every 5 hours) turned parts of Manhattan into ‘no-go’ areas.
Ethnic groups tended to congregate into their own small communities and racial tension was high.
