Lecture 2 - Global Flows Flashcards
What is Global Flows?
Global flows connect cities to other places around the world. Flows include products, goods and services, people, finances, ideas, places, diseases and illegal drugs, etc
What is Globalization?
the growing tendency for economic, political, and cultural exchanges to take place at a world scale
What are city flows?
Flows are evidence of interaction, such as people, money, food, water, energy, natural resources, highways, canalized rivers, railroad, power lines, office, parks, gas stations, shopping malls, commutes
Why are flows changes significant?
because it is embedded into society (Amazon)
What are characteristics of contemporary flows
- More diversity in a more complex network based organization
- increased in number
- Origins and destinations have changed - more international emphasis
- Cities more shaped by response to flows (reactive, proactive, resistant, or embracing)
Consumer Products and Services
- intermediate goods - raw and bulk materials for consumer products
- intermodalism - seamless modes of transportation, ex shipping containers move from boat - train - truck seamlessly. easier things move around = cheaper - People - immigration transforms places, ethnoburbs
- Finance - deregulation underpins economic globalization
- Information and Ideas - contribute to more service, cultural and multi-media production cities
- Nasty Flows - Pathogens, illicit drugs, weapons, crime, pollution, etc; favour urban locations
Effects of Flows
- Growth generates social costs at a high rate
- general inequality in Canadian cities (rising rents and property values)
Flows in cities
- Globalization plays an important role in shaping cities
- Local dynamics are vital to understanding actual patterns of urban development
- Globalization has limits in times of economic recession, climate change, and uncertainty surrounding the carbon-based economy
