MIDTERM 1 Flashcards
Geography
The study of interdependence and interaction among geographic areas, natural systems, processes, society and cultural activities over space. A spatial science.
Economic Geography
Study of the location, distribution and spatial organization of economic activities across the world.
Place
A specific location and the values and characteristics associated with it.
Location
position that something occupies on Earth’s surface
Key concepts in Geography (5)
Location
Space
Place
Movement
Region
Relative Space
Perceptual, socially produced. Subject to change depending on who is viewing it, and when.
Conceptions of space (4)
Location
Territory
Place
Scale
Relative Distance
measured in transport/travel costs or travel time. (i.e. 10 min walk, 12 hour plane ride). More important in economic terms than absolute distance.
Absolute Distance
Objective distance that can be measured.
Psychological Distance
Subjective perception of how far something is.
Distance Decay
Reduction in the amount of movement/spatial interaction between two places the greater distance they are apart.
Site
The physical character of a location.
Situation`
The location/place of a site relative to other locations/places.
Conceptions of space (5)
Location
Distance
Territory
Place
Scale
What is a major determinant in how an economic landscape is formed?
overcoming distance requires time and money!
Territory
Bounded portions of space as defined by the power exercised over them. Space that is under the control of a group or individual.
Primary form of territorial power is exercised by…
governments
Most cities have a labor market represented by areas within ______ hours of commuting time
1-2 commuting time
Johann Heinrich von Thünen model
- earliest attempt to analyze the effect of distance on patterns of land use
- while outdated, captures essence of how costs associated with distance can affect the spatial structure of economic activities
Assumptions of the von Thünen model
- transport costs were directionally proportional to distance
- landscape, soil fertility etc. were uniform in all directions
- there was only one market center for products
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Johann Heinrich von Thünen model
- earliest attempt to analyze the effect of distance on patterns of land use
- while outdated, captures essence of how costs associated with distance can affect the spatial structure of economic activities
Developed 200 years ago by German land owner
Bid- rent theory
refers to how the price and demand for real estate change as the distance from the central business district (CBD) increases. It states that different land users will compete with one another for land close to the city centre.
Relative Location
location relative to something else.
Defining site (4)
Climate
Topography
Lat/Long
Vegetation
Conceptions of distance:
Absolute/Relative
Time
Economic
Psychological
Region
Segment of the earth with a unique combination of features.
Types of Region (3)
Formal Region
Functional Region
Vernacular
Formal Region
Measurable, involves defined boundaries.
Functional Region
Defined by systems of interaction, coverage of networks
- organized around a central focal point
- national highway system, TELUS coverage system, university campus, subway system
Vernacular
Based on feelings, attitudes, stereotypes
- The American South
- The Middle East
- Cascadia
Vernacular
Based on feelings, attitudes, stereotypes
- The American South
- The Middle East
- Cascadia
Types of scales (5)
Spatial Temporal Social Political Economic
“Environmental”
Concerning other than human worlds
“Political”
Concerning power and distribution of resources
Political Ecology
The idea that all political projects are environmental and all environmental projects are political.
Political Ecology
The idea that all political projects are environmental and all environmental projects are political.
Two concerns of political ecology
- combines ecology/biology with political economy
- View of “nature” and “society” as mutually constitutive
Vancouver’s Industries
Coastal (port, trade) Gateway city Logging Fisheries Mining Housing Left leading city Profit of First Nations
Vancouver’s Industries
Coastal (port, trade) Gateway city Logging Fisheries Mining Housing Left leading city Profit off of First Nations
Things to consider when considering place through an economic lens:
History
Environment
Social/Cultural background
Local policies
Things to consider when considering place through an economic lens:
History
Environment
Social/Cultural background
Local policies
Canada’s levels of government
federal
provincial
municipal (city/town)
Why did Facebook choose to locate their data centres at Prineville, Oregon when the HQ is in California?
Climate: Dry
high rates of evaporation - evaporative cooling for machines
Territorial Space: Government Economic Jurisdiction
“long term rural enterprise zone” where there is exemption from property and income tax for up to 15 years
Site: Remote
Security advantage
Situation: Proximity to power source - local utility company for coal energy
human geography
Human geography is the study of the spatial organization of human activity and of people’s relationships with their environments.
Why did Facebook choose to locate their data centres at Forest City, North California when the HQ is in California?
- low cost, reliable power
- low cost land - rural
- local tax incentives
- low cost water
- close to major airport
- clustering effect (google, apple)
Why is territory an important concept in economic geography?
Power over a territory equals:
- what flows ACROSS territorial boundaries (workers, products, money)
- power over processes and activities WITHIN that territory
“economic” space
the expanse of territory across which economic connections are made
“economic” space
the expanse of territory across which economic connections are made.
Scales of economic analysis
Global
Macroregional
National
Regional
Urban
Local
Workplace/Home
The Body
Federal government responsibilities (4)
trade regulation
external relations
citizenship
defence
Municipal government responsibilities (3)
water
sewage
waste collection
land use planning
Territorial/Provincial government responsibilities (4)
property and civil rights
administration of justice
natural resources and the environment
welfare
Municipal government responsibilities (4)
water
sewage
waste collection
land use planning
Globalization
Growing interdependence of countries worldwide through the increase of the variety and volume of cross-border transactions of goods and services and international capital flows (through the rapid and widespread diffusion of technology & ideas)
How are economics different today?
- Global integration
- Shifts in global economic power
- Shifting forms of of corporate organization, consumer behaviours and state regulation
Scale
Area over which phenomena exists
Global economic integration
- ↑ interdependency
- Transnational companies and outsourcing
- ↑ flows - people (migration), capital, trade, goods, information, OTH life forms
- More coordinated global financial management
- Countries emerging from the margins of the global economy
- Emergence of international financial institutions
Shifts in global economic power
- ↓global output (value of all goods and services) of US & other wealthy industrialized countries
- ↑ global output in China and Asia
- ↑ geopolitical power of China & BRICS
- Shifting forms of corporate organization, consumer behaviour and state regulation
Global economic integration via: changing technologies
- Information & Communications (ICT)
- Digitization of daily life
- Computer-centric lifestyle
- Global adoption of wireless mobile technology
- Benefits? Challenges? For whom
Environmental challenges today (4)
- Climate change
- Resource constraints/depletion
- Growth imperative
- Environmental destruction
