Global Networks

Question 0

Examples of global networks

Answer 0

Transport, telephones, technology, internet, air travel, GIS, flows of goods or services

Question 1

What is a global network?

Answer 1

The way in which places are linked together or connected.

Question 2

What natural resources create global hubs?

Answer 2

Oil resources, coastline suitable for trade, minerals.

Question 3

What human resources create global hubs?

Answer 3

Skilled labour, large labour force, languages spoken.

Question 4

Case study: easyJet

Answer 4

Technology helped build easyJet.
One of the first companies to embrace the internet.
95% of easyJet flights now purchased over the internet.
In 2006 it had….122 aeroplanes, 33 million passengers, £2.6 billion revenue.

Question 5

Why do poor nations remain switched off?

Answer 5

Lack of strong flows of investment or global hubs.

Question 6

How does air travel help build global networks?

Answer 6

Firms such as easyJet have pioneered low cost air travel.

Developments such as the airbus allow for greater passenger numbers.

Question 7

How have telephones helped build global networks?

Answer 7

Core technology for communicating over distance.

In parts of Africa where telephone lines were never laid, they are ‘leap frogging’ to mobile phones.

Question 8

Why is there poverty in switched off places?

Answer 8

As other nations drive ahead faster, the gap between high income countries and low income countries is widening
Richest 1% of individuals now own 40% of all wealth. The poorest 50% of adults own just 1% of global wealth.

Question 9

How has the internet helped build global networks?

Answer 9

Large amounts of data can be quickly moved.
Allows of office staff and employees to work from home.
Allows companies to employ from different countries, eg. Disney employ animation experts from other countries.

Question 10

How have Apple helped create global networks?

Answer 10

First company to use apps and FaceTime.
Affordable on most contracts making it available to most.
Free messaging between Apple phone users.

Question 11

How has GIS/GPS help creat global networks?

Answer 11

Satellites continuously broadcast position and time data to users throughout the world. Geographic information systems (GIS) are software systems that can collect, manage and analyse satellite data.

Question 12

Global hubs in middle income and low income countries

Answer 12

Globalisation has made social disparities in middle-income countries worse. For example in Nigeria, the elite live extremely wealthy lives in Lagos whereas those in rural areas live in poverty.
Also the Ogoni people in the Niger delta have recieved no benefits from oil extracted from their lands.

Question 13

Key concept: Networks and flows

Answer 13

A network is a model that shows how different places are linked together. Geographers draw networks to emphasise the connections that exist between different places. For example the map of the London Underground.

Question 13

Flows are the movements of…..

Answer 13

Money - most credit cards work internationally.
Raw materials - Commodities are traded globally.
Manufactured goods - value of world trade now $70 trillion.
Information - Internet brought a great deal of realtime communication.
People - the flow of people faces the most obstacles.

Question 14

Cumulative causation:

Answer 14

A model which explains why wealth becomes concentrated in certain places. Globalisation increases the chances of this, as local people can find global markets for their products or attract employers with their skill.

Question 15

Multiplier effect

Answer 15

The positive spin-offs that follow an initial investment in a region. Other firms may gain business supplying parts, the increased spending power of workers stimulates the service sector, and higher tax revenues can be invested in education and infrastructure.

Question 16

Export processing zone

Answer 16

A small industrial area often on the coast, where favourable conditions are created to attract foreign TNCs. These conditions include low tax rates and exemption from tariffs.

Question 17

Trickle-down

Answer 17

The positive impacts on peripheral regions of the creation of wealth in core regions. These impacts include the roll-out of national services as well as regional aid and assistance for start-up businesses.

Question 18

How may those living in switched-off places integrate into the world economy?

Answer 18

Subsistence farming - The farmers may become dependent on flows of food from NGOs in OECD nations.
Farmers may grow agricultural products for TNCs. For example the flower growers of Lake Naivasha in Kenya.

Question 19

What causes such extreme cases of global poverty?

Answer 19

As other nations drive ahead faster, the gap between high-income and low-income countries is widening. Even where progress is being made, the poorest countries are being left behind as the richest drive further ahead.
The world’s richest 1% of individuals now own 40% of global wealth whereas the to poorest 50% of adults only own 1%.