Urban Places - Short Answer Flashcards
Contrast the nature, character and spatial distribution of world cities and mega cities. (8)
Nature: Important in global networks, authority (NYC GDP of $1.5T )vs cities >10M, large workforce (Delhi GDP of $67B)
Character: High % of workers in services (95% in NYC) + High living standards (London = 82) vs Mainly manufacturing (Calcutta, India has 40%) and informal sector (65% in Dhaka) but national centres (Mumbai finance) + Low life expectancy but rising (Lagos = 54)
Spatial distribution: Northern hemisphere in developed countries (only one of top 10 in Southern Hemisphere) vs the ‘Global South’ with 24/31 megacities in 2016 located here
Explain why world cities are important centres of economic and cultural authority. (6)
Economic: NYC 2nd for n.o. TNC HQs at 217; NYSE = $19.3T, Nasdaq = $13.8T next largest Tokyo = $5.7T; Largest Forex market with 30% + largest wholesaling banking sector with 539 foreign banks > NYC + Tokyo combined
Cultural: London has 4 of top 10 universities in the world; HQ of BBC which reaches 5% of world population; NYC home to UN; London + NYC combined have 6 of top 10 most visited museums
Account for the operation of global networks of world cities. (5)
Flows of people: Greater connectivity due to technology, London’s airport system, largest in the world handled 177M passengers in 2018, over 1500 daily flights to other world cities.
Trade: Singapore (Alpha + GaWC) distributes 20% of all shipping containers annually; 70% of global trade is in world city networks
Flow of information: BBC in London reaches 5% of the world
Flow of Capital: NYSE = $19.3T, Nasdaq = $13.8T, next largest Tokyo = $5.7T
Explain the changing relationship between regional centres and small towns. (4)
Regional centres: 11,000-50,000; 31% of small towns have lost populations since 1986; Dubbo and surrounding towns such as Wellington were similar size in 1950s but now 38,000 vs 4,000; Due to cross roads of major highways, railway line, airport, services (bank branches) more centralised due to tech, more variety tech, 14 supermarkets in Dubbo vs 4 within 60km readius
Using examples, explain the relationship between world cities and other urban centres in terms of dominance and dependence (6)
March 2020 - S&P 500 Future in NYC stopped trading due to max. fall with fears of Covid-19, first since 2016 -> news caused ASX 200 to have biggest daily drop since 2008 showing dependence of Sydney; 65% of newspapers in circulation in Sydney are owned by NYC based News Corp; London has 43 universities, highest of any in Europe; Sydney has 26/50 top Australian corporate HQs; 60% off corporate HQs and 90% of internal bank regional HQs are based in Sydney; Sydney has all major free-to-air TV network HQs (ABC, SBS, 7, 9, 10)
Describe THREE challenges for people living in mega cities in the developing world and evaluate one response for each challenge (8)
Water and sanitation: Dhaka (19.6M) has almost doubled in size in 10 years. Only 30% is covered by the official sewage system and 80% have access to uncontaminated drinking water (due to infrastructure failing to keep up with population growth). Cooperation from NGOs such as DSK since 2000 has been giving loans to informal settlements to provide community latrine and water pump systems, estimated to helped over 150,000 people reducing the spread of disease
Traffic infrastructure + air pollution: Mexico City has 9.6 million cars, 1992 named the most polluted city in the world + has stayed near the top, over 1,000 deaths/year from pollution. Government response of Hoy no Circula which prohibited people from driving one day of the work week based off their number plate, CO dropping by 11% initially. But wealthier families bought a 2nd car to get around it, overall emissions have still increased by 13% with air particulate concentrations twice the recommended maximum level of WHO
Employment: In Mumbai (20M), 68% of employment is informal due to lack of formal sector. In Dharavi, one of Asia’s largest slums with 700,000 people in 2km2, virtually all jobs are informal with an estimated 5,000 businesses, 15,000 single room factories, 250,000 employed in recycling and US$1B turnover. But lack of regulation - health + environmental issues
Explain how an urban dynamic has affected the culture of place of a large city in the developed world (4)
Urban renewal - Darling Harbour, Barangaroo from industrial to modern, distinct harbour areas, night-life, corporate area
Describe the spatial patterns of advantage and disadvantage in your chosen large city in developed world (3)
Higher education and higher income correlate with high wealth. Old manufacturing hubs in the west and south-west also have high unemployment. Professionals in lower north shore and eastern suburbs. Average taxable Y for inner Sydney suburbs exceeds $75,000/year while it is below $50,000 in most areas more than 100km from CBD.
Describe the impacts of an urban dynamic in a suburb or country town you have studied (6)
Urban renewal on Darlinghurst. Since 1990s, seen as valuable due to proximity to CBD, high land value + culture. Former NSW Police HQ renewed in 2009 to become ‘The Residence’ which had the penthouse sell for $14.5M in 2019. Parks, footpaths and local areas such as Taylor Square renovated for $15M with new cafes and stores. Effect of changing demographics with median age of 35, highest % of Gen X + Y in Aus, 42.3% are professionals vs 21.1% in 2001. Personal median weekly Y of $1285 almost double Aus’s median with 74.9% being couples with no children so high disposable Y for rent and spending.
