Urban Places

Question 1

What is the nature of world cities?

Answer 1

• A cause and an effect of globalisation
• Cities that are strongly connected in the globalised world economy
• Cities that act as nodes in a global network
• Cities that connect national and regional activity to the globe
  (Different cities play different roles in the global economy. Dominant world cities have importance in several areas)

Question 2

What 4 factors describe the character of world cities?

Answer 2

Command and control function, distinctive and prestigious lifestyles, transport hubs and tourist centres

Question 3

How can the spatial patterns of world cities be described?

Answer 3

• Core-periphery linkages
• Hierarchical (dominant vs secondary): Exchanges between dominant cities are typically greater than those between smaller world cities
• 3 sub-systems/cores spread across longitude/time zones

Question 4

What two categories describe the role of world cities?

Answer 4

Economic (command and control function, a full range of services, specialised services and markets for a range of goods and services) and cultural authority (social infrastructure, cultural facilities, centres for a range of cultural events and distinctive lifestyles)

Question 5

What 4 flows can be described in global networks?

Answer 5

C+P.I.G.S (capital, people, information, goods and services), transport technology and communications technologies