Geography Topic 5 - The UK's Evolving Human Landscape

Question 1

Explain population distribution in the UK.

Answer 1

Population distribution in the UK is uneven. Population density is highest in cities. It’s also high in areas around major cities or conurbations.

Upland areas such as northern Scotland are mostly rural. Rural areas are sparsely populated.

Question 2

What are conurbations?

Answer 2

Towns that have merged to form continuous urban areas.

Question 3

Explain economic activity in urban cores.

Answer 3

Urban cores areas have a higher concentration of economic activity - 60% of jobs in cities found there.

Main employment opportunities are in tertiary sector and in manufacturing.

Lots of people live in cities as there’s more jobs available there, which are often better paid.

Question 4

Explain economic activity in rural areas.

Answer 4

Rural areas have fewer job opportunities.

There is more primary industry e.g farming.

Some areas also have a seasonal tourism industry.

Some rural settlements that are near urban areas have become commuter settlements - people live there and travel into urban areas for work.

Question 5

Why do urban cores have a younger population?

Answer 5

High proportion of younger people in big cities because people often live in cities to be closer to their jobs, so a higher proportion of the population is of working age.

Question 6

Why do rural areas have a higher proportion of older people?

Answer 6

Older people move out of cities to retire to a more peaceful environment and younger people leave rural areas to work in cities.

Question 7

Why do some rural areas have high levels of poverty?

Answer 7

Isolated rural areas on the periphery of the UK, which are relatively inaccessible. They have few employment opportunities as they’re difficult to form and have few natural resources. Young people leave to find jobs elsewhere - depopulation leads to loss of services as they can’t be supported.

Rural areas around former industrial areas where loss of manufacturing industry has caused high unemployment and new jobs haven’t been created.

Question 8

How are the UK & Eu Government policies aiming to reduce differences in wealth?

Answer 8

Creating enterprise zones.
Transport Infrastructure.
Regional Development.

Question 9

How does creating enterprise zones reduce differences in wealth?

Answer 9

Enterprise zones offer companies a range of benefits for locating in enterprise zones. Such as reduced taxes, simpler planning rules, improved infrastructure.

These encourage companies to locate in areas of high unemployment bringing jobs and income which could help poorer areas develop.

Question 10

How does creating transport infrastructure reduce differences in wealth?

Answer 10

UK government plants to link London, Birmingham, Leeds & Manchester with high speed rail line, HS2. This increases capacity and allow faster journeys into major cities promoting industry and jobs in poorer rural areas in north of ENgland.

On a local scale, Lancashire county council built a new road to link port of Heysham to M6 encouraging business to invest by reducing travel times and easing congestion, creating more job opportunities for surrounding rural areas.

Question 11

How does regional development reduce differences in wealth?

Answer 11

EU has used European regional development fund to promote growth in poorer rural areas by investing in small high-tech businesses, providing training to improve local people’s skills and funding infrastructure. e.g EU funded superfast broadband in Cornwall. Attracting digital businesses, e.g Gravitas. This creates skilled jobs in the area, attracting young graduates and boosting local economy.

The common agricultural policy is an EU initiative to make sure EU farmers can earn a living from farming. It includes training for farmers and assistance for young farmers.

Question 12

How does international and national migration affect the distribution of the population?

Answer 12

Young national migrants and international migrants move to major cities - where most jobs and universities are located. Most popular places are London and West Midlands.

There’s been lots of counter-urbanisation as wealthy people move out of cities to seek a better quality of life in rural areas - London has highest number of people leaving.

Many older people move to coastal areas in east and south west of England when they retire.

Question 13

How does international and national migration affect the age structure of the population?

Answer 13

The large number of young migrants (20-29) increases population in this age group.

Migration also affects the age structure of the UK by increasing the birth rate, because many migrants of child-bearing age. Immigrants make up 13% of UK population but account for 27% of babies born.

Question 14

How has UK immigration policy increased diversity?

Answer 14

After second world war, UK encouraged immigration from commonwealth countries to fill skills shortages in UK workforce.

Later, entry was restricted but work permits for migrants with desirable skills were made available - many highly skilled Indians still come to the UK.

This means UK has a high proportion of Caribbean and Asian ethnicity - nearly 10%.

Question 15

What has EU allowed since 1995?

Answer 15

Since 1995 the EU has allowed free movement of people within member countries to find work - this increased number of people migrating UK from Europe.

Question 16

What happened in 2004?

Answer 16

In 2004 eight new countries joined the EU. Lots of people moved from these countries e.g Poland, to find jobs in the UK. This was mainly in low-skilled jobs e.g agriculture.

Question 17

What happened between 2001 and 2011?

Answer 17

The proportion of non-British white people increased more than any ethnic group - Polish people are now one of the largest non-UK born groups.

Question 18

What has international immigration increased?

Answer 18

International immigration has increased cultural diversity - immigrants introduce languages, food, arts, festivals and fashion from their own culture giving UK a rich mix.

Question 19

What has happened to primary industries since 1960?

Answer 19

Since 1960 jobs in primary industries have decreased. Farming has become more mechanised so fewer people are needed. The mining industry also declined due to competition from abroad and cheaper alternative fuels.

Question 20

What has happened to secondary industries?

Answer 20

Jobs in secondary industries have also decreased - people employed in manufacturing fell from 36% of the workforce to just 9% in 2011. This was partly a result of global shift.

Question 21

What has happened to the service sector?

Answer 21

Employment in the service sector has increased. Retail is the UK’s largest sector employing 2.9 million people - people have disposable income to spend. Finance is an important part of the economy - city of London is home to many global financial institutions.

Question 22

What has happened to quaternary industries?

Answer 22

Quaternary industries are increasing, making use of UK’s skilled university graduates. In 2013, nearly £30 billion was spent on R&D in the UK.

Question 23

What has happened to secondary industry in Burnley?

Answer 23

In early 20th Century Burnley had a thriving economy based on textiles. From 1914, the textiles industry in the UK began to collapse - due to cheap imports. Other primary and secondary industries struggled. Several major factories closed in 1990s and early 2000s with loss of hundreds of jobs. Burnley has struggled to recover economically. Employment rate is only 65% and wages are below UK average. There is little population growth and people are more likely to leave than move there. The manufacturing skills existing in the area are low costs of operating there have begun to attract aerospace engineering firms - meaning area is largely dependent on manufacturing industries for employment.

Question 24

What is happened to tertiary and quaternary sectors in South Wales?

Answer 24

For much of 18th and 19th century economy of South Wales was based on coal mining and iron making. In the 20th century, coal mining declined due to overseas competition. Unemployment levels were high, and many people lived in poverty.

In 1992, different parts of region started to work together to achieve economic growth. They improved transport networks, attract businesses, increase skills.

Costs are lower than London so easier to st art new businesses. Universities supply skilled labour forces.

This helped to attract private investors in high tech industries - south wales is now home to lots of new digital and media companies and is thriving economic region.

As wealth increases, people have more money to spend on services, creating more jobs these dinsutiries.

Question 25

What is foreign direct investment?

Answer 25

A company based in one country can invest money in a different country - this is foreign direct investment (FDI).
FDI can take two forms:
companies can buy land or buildings and locate their factory or office there.
companies can buy all or part of an already existing business.

Question 26

Why is FDI increasing in the UK?

Answer 26

FDI is increasing due to globalisation, privatisation and free trade polcies.

Question 27

Why is globalisation causing FDI to increase?

Answer 27

Globalisation is the process of countries becoming more integrated. It’s increasing because:
Transport and communications links have improved making it easier for companies to operate in the UK.
London has developed as a global financial centre - many foreign banks have located here because of business culture and networking opportunities.

Question 28

Why is privatisation causing FDI to increase?

Answer 28

Services that were previously run by UK government have been offered to private firms. T his has increased FDI because foreign firms can buy them or merge them with their existing businesses.

Question 29

Why are free trade policies causing FDI to increase?

Answer 29

Free trade policies reduce import and export restrictions, making it easier for countries to trade. Free trade is promoted between member countries of the EU. This increases FDi from the EU because companies can move goods and services freely between the UK and their home country.

Free trade agreements with other countries can attract investors to the UK who want access to the European market and often include special agreements for investment as part of the deal.

Question 30

Advantages of TNCs on UK economy.

Answer 30

Jobs are created.

Large scale projects can be built that the UK government can’t afford to pay for. e.g offshore wind turbines

TNCs often lead the way in developing new products, technology and business practices which can be used by other firms to increase productivity.

Question 31

What are disadvantages of TNCs on UK economy?

Answer 31

It can lead to over-reliance on TNCs - if there’s a problem elsewhere in the world UK’s economy is affected.

There are big effects if TNCs choose to relocate or change suppliers. e.g Many UK farmers are dependent on just one or two large TNCs who buy their produce.

Local businesses struggle to compete against TNCs.