Urban Places - World Cities

Question 1

Urban geography and growth

Answer 1

The concern with relations of people, their environments globally.

The emergence of large cities is a result of urbanisation

Question 2

Nature of World cities

Answer 2

A city considered as an important node in global economic system, characterised by significance in economic, social and cultural influence.

Question 3

Hierarchy of World Cities

Answer 3

1. Alpha+++ cities - Vastly integrated into global economy than all other cities.
2. Alpha ++ cities - Those which complement london and new York by filling advanced service of niches for the global economy.
3. Alpha and Alpha- cities - Link major economic regions into world economy
4. Beta cities - Link moderate economic regions to economy
5. Gamma cities - Link smaller economic regions to global economy

Question 4

Character of world cities?

Answer 4

IPHONE
I - infrastructure
P - Producer Services
H - Hotspot of culture
O - Organisation control
N - Networked
E - Economic Function

Question 5

spatial distribution

Answer 5

Determined by location through being large urbanised spaces, characterised by dense patterns of global, multi-national or national level interactions.

Typically found in northern hemisphere, due to being established in modern countries.

Question 6

Role of world cities

Answer 6

1. command and control centres of global economy
2. preferred location of finance and specialised service firms
3. focus on advanced telecommunication tech
4. sites of production for new industry
5. markets offer new economic opportunities
6. focus for media outlets with international reach; BBC, new-york times..
7. Powerful centres of cultural authority; institutions such as museums, galleries, universities and research centres
8. home of sporting events

Question 7

What is a global network?

Answer 7

Interconnection of both social and economic factors of the world, e.g. multinational and transnational corporations are examples of global corporate nework.

Question 8

Network types

Answer 8

1. economy
2. telecommunications
3. Transport

Question 9

Networrk flows

Answer 9

1. flows of capital
2. flows of information
3. flows of people

Question 10

Globalisation and relation to dominance and dependence

Answer 10

With process of globalisation with international growth of capitalism leads to the dominance of countries, developing world cities, and the dependence upon developing nations upon those developed within this global capitalist system.

Question 11

Regional centres and small towns

Answer 11

• globalisation has led to growth of some urban areas at expense of others, regional centres taking functions and as consequences small towns loose growth or platform.

Question 12

Role of large metropolitan areas

Answer 12

Sydney
- economic
- education
- health services
- entertainment
- decision making
- centres of innovation

Question 13

Role of regional centres

Answer 13

• similar to metropolitan however less complex, dense and intricate
• role developed over time becoming a centre for essential services.