The impacts of quaternary industry clusters on people and places

Question 1

What locations won’t benefit from quaternary growth

Answer 1

Rural locations with limited communication (especially broadband)

Question 2

Give an impact clusters can have on the social character of a place

Answer 2

Clusters attract a higher-educated, digitally proficient work force earing higher salaries which will change the social character of a place.

Question 3

What can clusters do to global connectivity?

Answer 3

They can improve global connectivity of a place which attracts further interest and investment into the place as well as increasing productivity in research. This can lead to the development of a global hub.

Question 4

What is a global hub?

Answer 4

A settlement or wider region that provides a focal point for activities that have a global influence. All mega-cities and world cities are global hubs, along with smaller settlements (like Cambridge, whose university and science park have a global reach).

Question 5

What are the negative impacts of the quaternary industry clusters on people

Answer 5

Job opportunities for less skilled workers are limited

Higher-paid workers demand homes so house prices rise

Non-quaternary workers suffer from social exclusion

Question 6

How can a quaternary cluster change the image of a place

Answer 6

A science or business park in a pleasant surrounding with good communications help in “place-making” creating a good image and attracting new workers and investors

Question 7

What is a unicorn?

Answer 7

A unicorn is a privately held startup company valued at over $1 billion.