UK in the 21st Century Flashcards
In which areas is population density the highest in the UK?
In major cities
Describe the pattern of relief in each of the 4 UK nations.
England - flattest (low relief), especially in SE, within exception of Pennines area
Scotland - high relief (bar central belt of Glasgow and Edinburgh)
Wales - high relief
Northern Ireland - moderate
What does England having flat land mean?
It is ideal for settlement.
The flattest of england’s land is in the midlands and south
What are 4 causes of housing shortages
- Nimbyism - local opposition to new houses
- Green belt protection
- Rising land prices mean landowners want to hold onto their houses in the hope that the value will increase
- More single people
What are 4 effects of housing shortages
- Not enough people can get homes
- Inflation of house prices (with increased mortgage burdens)
- People can’t afford to live in nicer areas
- People living at home for longer
What is natural change?
the difference between the birth rate and death rate (birth rate - death rate)
How has natural change changed since 2001
It has risen overall.
currently at about 200,000 a year
What is net immigration
immigration (inward) - emigration (outward)
How has net migration changed since 2001?
Immigration has risen, emigration has remained constant, so it has increased overall
What currently drives most of the UK’s population increase, natural change or net migration?
both
used to be 3:1 net migration to natural change, but is now about 1:1
In the 21st Century, natural change has been of increasing importance for the UK’s popualtion increase, why is this?
Because immigrants, mostly Eastern Europeans, have had their own children.
What is the demographic transition model?
A model used to describe expected changes to a population over time.
What are the qualities of stage 4 of the demographic transition model.
Birth rate: low and fluctuating
Death rate: low and fluctuating
Natural change: more or less zero
On a UK population pyramid, you see variations in population at certain ages, why is this?
Because of ‘baby booms’, which is linked to the post-war baby boom (as returning soldiers wanted families)
What is the problem with using the demographic transition to describe the UK’s population?
This model doesn’t account for the large net migration into the UK, which has a significant impact on the UK’s population (about 50:50 with natural change).
What does an ageing population mean and what causes it?
An increasing average age in a population
Driven by rising life expectancies and low birth rates
In the UK, the post-WW2 baby boom has also played a factor (as those born in the time are now elderly)
The UK’s increased life expectancy can be attributed to what 4 things
- better healthcare
- earlier detection of medical problems
- better diets
- living standards are improving
What is a dependant population?
The part of a population (generally children and pensioners), who do not work and rely on others for the goods and services they consume
an example includes pensions paid by taxes from the working population.
What is the formula for dependancy ratio?
Children (under 16) + older people (65 and over) ✕ 100 ÷ Working population (16-64)
The dependant population has remained similiar in the 21st century as…
the proportion of children have slightly decreased, whereas the proportion of older people have slightly increased
List three positive impacts of an ageing popualtion.
- relieving childcare/domestic cleaning pressures
- greypound (increased spending on leisure activities)
- lifelines for tourist shops (e.g. fish and chip shops)
List five negative impacts of an ageing population.
- more government money goes towards pensions (65% of state benefits go to over 65s). Leads to pension crisis
- the working age who care and look after elderly will work less and will be paid less
- strain on local NHS services
- healthcare needs increased investment (NHS spending on retired households double that of working age) (local councils with high ageing population need to spend more on healthcare)
- general divide - lack of interaction between age groups leads to misunderstanding and loneliness
List 3 ways the government has responded to challenges of an ageing population.
- Increasing age people must work before recieving state pension form 65 to 68 in 2046 (incentivises people work longer so more tax contribution and less pension costs)
- Encourage elderly to exercise regularly to relieve pressure on NHS
- Allowing more immigration to UK, replacing those who retire (though government is under pressure to change this)
Why do graduates, young professionals and immigrants move to London?
Due to its job opportunities (as a world city) not seen in the rest of the UK.
It has a certain gravity to attract many, that nowhere else in the UK can replicate
In London, why is there a high birth rate and low death rate compared with the rest of the UK?
High birth rate - young migrants having families (child-bearing age)
Low death rate - older population moving out
How does London’s proportion of demographics of age (children, 18-30, working age, elderly) compare to the rest of the UK?
Children - lower proportion
18-30 - significantly higher proportion
working age - lower proprtion
Elderly - significantly lower proportion
How has the ethnic diversity of London changed since 2001?
It has changed from a majority white city, to the second most diverse city in the world (as of 2011) with only 45% being white British, with other groups such as Black, South Asian, white other, mixed, etc. This leads to different ethnicities clustering in different parts of the city (e.g. French in wealthy area South Kensington, West London)
It should be noted that many of those in these other ethnic groups were actually British-born
What is the primary sector? Give examples of it
The extraction of raw materials
farming, fishing, mining, etc
What is the secondary sector? Give examples of it
Manufacturing industries
Manufacturers, food production
What is the tertiary sector? Give examples of it
Service sector
Banks, hairdressers, cinemas, supermarkets
What is the quanternary industry?
Sector based on high level information and research
ICT, Consultancy, R&D
How has the UK’s economy changed since 2001? (refer to each sector)
Primary - continued decrease
Secondary - continued (high levels of) decrease
Tertiary - high increase
Quanternary - growing (relatively new sector)
Why have secondary and quanternary sectors changed?
Secondary - due to globalisation, other countries could produce goods cheaper (decline in industry opportunity)
Quanternary - relies on advanced countries with good educational institutions
What is the North-South divide?
The cultural, social and economic differences between the North and South of the UK.
Why does the north-south divide exist?
Due ot 70/80s decline of primary/secondary industry. The south was supported by tertiary/quanternary markets, the north was not.
List 4 ways the government has attempted to adress the north-south divide.
Regional devolution (e.g. Mayor for Greater Manchester)
Job Creation (e.g. MediaCityUK where ITV is in Manchester)
HS2 railway
Northern powerhouse scheme (Cameron years - An additional 287,000 people in employment and a £10 billion increase in the size of the economy are attributed to the project) and Levelling up (Johnson years)
Outline the main political priorities of UK governments from 2001-2019 in three periods
2001-2007: Investing in research and higher education
2008: borrowing to support businesses from effects of recession
2009-2019: austerity measures and supporting new industtuies and job creation
There has been increase in the UK in the number of self-employed people following 2008, why is this?
People lost jobs due to recession and it spurred on entrepeneurship (fresh start)
What does the term ‘post-industrial’ mean?
‘After Industry’ - an economy which no longer relies on manufacturing. This describes the UK
How has male/female employment changed since 2001?
Male barely changed, female slightly risen - shows women aren’t replacing men in jobs
How has male/female unemployment changed since 2001?
move in tandom, but gap widening (male unemployment higher)
Give one advantage and disadvantage of self-employment
Good: leads to higher potential income for those self-employed, more tax paid
Bad: more risky vulnerable jobs
Describe how work type has changed since 2001? (think professions)
Professions - increased
Manual/admin/manufacturing - decreased
How does the UK currently maintain its global influence?
Through its membership of international organisations such as NATO and the UN.
These have allowed Britain to shape global policies such as defense, trade and international relations.
What happened in Ukraine from 2014?
The Russo-Ukraine war between Ukraine and Russian-supported belligerents.
The dispute of the status of Ukrainian areas of Crimea (annexed in 2014 by Russia) and Dondas (economic area including Dontesk).
Continues today.
How was the UK involved in the Ukraine conflict through its membership of the UN? (2 ways)
Supporting peace talks
2015 - UK gave £15m humanitarian aid to Ukraine for those who had to leave homes
The UN is an international organisation containing 193 countries (nearly the entire world) to promote international cooperation and peace, security, economic development, environmental protection, etc.
How was the UK involved in the Ukraine conflict through its membership of NATO? (2 ways)
- encouraged negotiations
- 2015 rapid response team (5000 soldiers in neighbouring countries to deter Russia, UK led force in 2017)
NATO is a military alliance of 30 nations. If one country is attacked, it is considered an attack on all (i.e. they should defend each other) - seen in the aftermath of 9/11.
How was the UK involved in the Ukraine conflict through its membership of the G7? (2 ways)
- Russia forced out of G8
- imposed sanctions on Russia - limiting trade and restrictions on banks
The G7 is an inter-governmental group of 7 (formerly 8) of wealthy liberal countries
Give examples of successful UK media exports?
Films (e.g. Skyfall - made almost £1bn in International BO)
Music artists (e.g. Adele)
Game show format IP (e.g. who wants to be a millionaire? - shown in 107 countries) which’s format can be sold
In what 2 ways do British media exports influence the world?
- exposes/promotes British values, tradition and culture
- makes people want to live, work and study in UK (through events such as the 2012 olympics)
Explore the contribution of ethnic groups (South-Asian) to the UK through food. Give statistics and give a challenge to it.
British curry (indian cuisine modified for British tastes)
British Curry awards (that then-PM David Cameron once visited)
E.g. chicken tikka masala.
‘Going for a curry’ is a popualr social activity in the UK
Locations: Brick Lane, London
If a 6 mark question asks you to explore how food contributes to the UK, mention both China and British Curry
Economical: Contributes £4.5bn to economy, 72,000 employed in sector
Changes to UK immigration law limiting low skilled workers (e.g. Bangladeshis who may not be able to speak English), leading to chef shortages.
Second generation immigrants have higher aspirations and do not want to work in curry houses.
How has one economic hub in the UK changed since 2001?
The Cambridge-Stansted-London growth corridor.
Many tech (Google, Microsoft) and bioscience (GSK, AstraZeneca) in Cambridge Science Parks
Situated between Cambridge University (where many top graudtaes go) and world city of London.
Businesses and people attracted to area because of transport links as well (M11, Stansted Airport)
Give two reasons why the UK is in stage 4 of the DTC
The popualtion is growing at a slower rate which is a feature of countries in early stage 4 of the model
The rate of natural increase is low and stabilising which is a feature of countries in early stage 4 of the model
Explore how Chinese food has contributed to UK cultural life.
Chinatowns (large clusters of Chinese takeaways/restaurants) in major cities, e.g. Stowell Street in Newcastle.
Contribute to architecture with arches and lanterns
Attracts South-East Asian to study there due to embedded comminities reminiscent of home country.
Farmland in the UK is relatively (…)
high
The largest proportion of farmland is in (2 nations) due to their flat land, it is lowest in (1 nation) due to its abundance of mountains
England and Northern Ireland
Scotland
Land use as a whole in UK at 57%
A (…) proportion of the UK land built on overall
small
Built on land is (…) in England due to it having the (…) land, this is (…) to Scotland/Wales
highest
flattest
contrary
6% of land use as a whole in UK
The UK patterns of rainfall are due to what?
Prevailing south-westerly wind from the Atlantic Ocean bringing moisture-laden air
Since 2008, the employment rate (…), but recently (about 2013) it has (…) (pre-pandemic)
decreased
risen
People lost jobs
A higher proportion of older populations are seen in (…) and (…) areas, and lesser in (…), particularly London
coastal
rural
major cities
Why do older people want to live in rural areas?
They are quieter, relaxed areas with cheaper and more spacious houses. People want to live in areas with already established elderly communities
Why is the UK brith rate low?
Because women are choosing to have children later in life
The UK has an (…) population
ageing
“How much did the UK’s media sector contribute to the economy in 2020?
£74.1bn
How do media exports generate income?
Through job creation, tax income, sale of IP rights, sale of shows, merchandise sales and box office
The total population of London has (…)
increased
Same rate in inner and outer London
The UK is currently in stage (…) of the demographic transition model
stage 4
Since 2001, the UK popualtion has (…)
increased
Where is rainfall least prevalent in the UK?
The South-Eats of England
Why does SE England recieve the least rainfall?
It sits in a rain shadow (low rain as south-wetserly wind from Atlantic Ocean prevails elsewhere i.e. moves North-East)
Why is demand for water high in SE England?
Demand is high due to the large popualtion of Greater London, so therefore domestic use is high
How does the UK appear on a popualtion pyramid?
It is relatively even
Natural land is a moderate level across the UK - Scotland’s proportion is much (…) than the other 3 nations
higher
35% of land use as a whole across UK
“The recent trend of the UK’s population shows that it is (…), the current population stands at (…)”
increasing
67 million
It is forecast to continue to grow
Since 2001 there has been a (…) in flexible working
pattern of increase
Most rainfall occurs on the (…) with rainfall averages dropping off as you move further eastwards.
West Coast
As well as the further west you move, the further (…) you get, the higher the rainfall in the UK
north
The (…) is the rainiest region in the UK
North West UK
Overall, working hours have decreased since 2001 from (…) average hours per week to (…)
34.7 to 33.1
South-East England is (…) populated
densely
There is a belt of (…) population strecthing from (…) to the (…)
dense
SE England
NW England
Northern Ireland is (…) populated
sparesly
What is relief rainfall?
Water vapour is pushed over mountains, which then condenses and forms rain cloud
Why is North-West UK particularly wet?
There are many mountains in Scotland, so water vapour is pushed over more mountains and tehn consenses to form more rain clouds. I.e. it recieves more relief rainfall
What are some factors that affect UK rainfall patterns?
relief of the land (mountains)
prevailing winds from ocean
high and low pressure systems
