Changing Places - Shifting Flows Flashcards
Why has flows of people, money, resources and ideas between places increased?
Because of the improvements of transport, which have made it easier for people and goods to be transported.
What have these flows enabled places to become?
More strongly connected to each other and over increasing distances.
Define globalisation?
Where places become more strongly connected to each other, and over increasing distances.
Name 5 factors that are to do with the demographic characteristics of a place?
Age, gender, education level, religion and birth rates.
How can flows of people change the demographic characteristics of a place on a local scale?
It may affect the age or gender balance of that place. For example, on a local scale, younger people have been leaving a town as they are unable to afford to buy a house in the area, leaving an increasingly high proportion of older people.
How can flows of people change the demographic characteristics of a place on a international scale?
There are concerns that large scale migration from North Africa to Europe that started in 2015 altered the gender balance of some host towns, as high proportion of the migrants are male.
How can flows of money and investment either by government or business change the demographic characteristics of a place?
The government can invest money in specific places in order to attract people to live there. The London Docklands Development Corporation was set up by the government in 1981 to redevelop the Docklands area of London. This improved the economy and the built environment which resulted in an increase in population in the area between 1981 and the early 21st century the population more then doubled.
How do flows of ideas and resources affect the demographic characteristics of a place?
Ideas such as the use of birth control can flow to new places and affect their demographic characteristics by reducing the birth rate and affecting the population size. International organisations such as the UNFPA have been set up to spread knowledge and ideas about birth control, as well as supplying resources to aid birth control.
What are cultural characteristics of places?
They are how people live their lives, e.g. the foods, customs, clothing, traditions, language and attitudes.
How can flows of people change the cultural characteristics of a place?
New people moving into a place can bring their culture with them. For example, in the 20th century the UK experienced mass international migrations from India, Pakistan and other Commonwealth countries. This has created multi-ethnic communities in many places, where there is a grater mix of languages spoken, religions practised.
How can flows of money, investment and ideas change the cultural characteristics of a place?
New cultural ideas introduced to a place can change the characteristics of that place. Fast food companies from the USA such as KFC and McDonalds opened restaurants in China in the 1980’s and 1990’s and have grown rapidly since. Eating habits in China have changed as a result with increasing numbers of people favouring western style fast food over traditional Chinese food.
What does the economic characteristics of place refer to?
They are to do with work and money, e.g. income, employment rates and the types of jobs available.
How do flows of people visiting places change the economic characteristics of those places?
Flows of tourism and people visiting places can alter the types of jobs available in the area to service based jobs in hospitality, shops and restaurants.
What does social characteristics of a place refer to?
It refers what peoples lives are like, their overall quality of life, their access to adequate food supplies, healthcare and education.
How can flows of people change the social characteristics and levels of social inequality?
In India large scale rural to urban migration has resulted in slums developing in cities such as Mumbai. The migrants often have very low quality of life, without access to electricity, sanitation or clean water- this contrasts with the high quality of life that wealthier residents in these cities have.
How can flows of money and investment improve the social characteristics of some places whilst also increasing inequality?
The process of gentrification has improved the social characteristics of some places. Notting Hill was once one of the most deprived areas in London, but now has much lower levels of deprivation. As the area has changed though, social inequality between the wealthy newcomers and existing poorer residents has increased.
What does gentrification mean?
Where wealthier people buy property in run down areas and improve the housing.
