World Cities: economic/cultural authority, operation of global networks, regional centres/small towns Flashcards
economic authority definition:
includes knowledge structures, ability to generate, communicate and disseminate beliefs relating to economic strategies and business climate
economic authority eg:
HQ for inter-governmental organisation (UN, OCED, IMF), HQ for TNC’s (HSBC, Sony, Apple)
key location for financial services: NY/Tokyo stock exchange, World Banks
specialised service firms: gather info, network contacts, conditions for innovation and creativity (finance, law, accounting, advertising, transport tourism)
markets for goods/services: concentrated retailing in high order consumer goods (clothing, jewellery) fifth Av. NY, Champs des Elysse, Paris
cultural authority defnition:
social infrastructure/networks, cultural activities, entertainment facilities
cultural authority eg:
social infrastructure: conference centres, international hotels, sophisticated transport links
cultural facilities and entertainment centres:
theatre, entertainment centre, opera house, sport facilities, major sporting events (Opera House, Wimbledom, Wembly stadium)
strong physical/social infrastructure: major airports, Chunnel, super fast trains
indicators of relationship between large cities:
flow of captial, information, goods/services, people
patterns:
outflow of money from dominant world cities-> factory closures, high unemployment centres of developed world– factories opening and job creation in low cost economies of developing world
connectivity:
measure of flows of info, knowledge and direction between international office network of global service firms
globalisation:
move to global marketplace/internet technologies centralised many business services, local level– demise of many small towns, population of small town decline- public/private services withdrawn more decline
economic restructuring
global marketplace: pressure minimise cost: more profit. businesses/services forced to introduce measures to gain economies of scale, affect small family farms were privatised - sold to big business.
gov. services (schools, railway, bus) scaled back, private business move -job loss
those living in small town: leave or forced to travel long distances to larger centres
growth in regional areas:
experience in some larger regional towns are opposite–> regional centres absorbing movement of people/businesses from small towns, have population to sustain services provided elsewhere. retailers: prefer to operate at regional centres– more profits
small towns have ways to attract people back (Dubbo case study)
Dubbo case study:
over 35 yrs, over 20 500–> nearly 40 000
only major regional area (western central NSW) absorbed populations from Parkes, Wellington, Coolah within 100km radius
situated in advantageous transport facility (various large Highways, railways) allowed Dubbo to provide services to large area –> wholesale distribution, entertainment/recreation (motels, Dubbo zoo)
