Free Essay

The Changing Geographies of Manufacturing in the Uk Since the 1970s

In:

Submitted By BobaLe
Words 2426
Pages 10
The Changing Geographies of Manufacturing in the UK since the 1970s

Since the 1970's, the geographies of manufacturing in the UK has been one of steady decline in relative contribution to GDP and in relative and real terms of employment. This dominant trend can be explained by 4 Theses and this essay will focus on them.

The Maturity thesis focuses on the decline in the relative contribution of manufacturing to the employment in the UK.
A typical Industry is going through:

1. Growth Phase, in which the industry share in the country's employment rises rapidly.

2. Maturity Phase, when the share stabilises.

3. Declining Phase, marked by decline in this share.

Figure 1 Employment change through maturity

A sector in growth phase takes the labour needed for its growth from other sectors. The service sector was experiencing growth from the 1970’s onwards and in immature countries the labour was mostly taken from the agricultural sector. But the UK had just 3,6 % of civil employment in agriculture in 1966.(Martin and Rowthorn 1986, 2010) The consequence was that almost all of the labour needed for its growth (20%) from 1971 until 2009 was taken from the industry sector.
This explains why the UK was the first developed country to experience de-industrialisation and its strong influence.

Figure 2 UK Unemployment by broad sector, 1971-2009 Cambridge Econometrics analysis of ONS (2013)

But most of the rise in employment in the service sector was experienced by the South East, especially London. While the losses in Manufacturing jobs were just a little bit bigger for the South East then for the rest of the country. By 2007 the South East had 40 per cent of all business service and 35 per cent of all financial service jobs in the UK, whilst being responsible for 50 per cent of the growth in both sectors between 1997 and 2007. (Coe and Jones 2010)
So, while the South East was becoming less dependent on manufacturing and was experiencing growth in the service sector, the north, Wales and the Midlands, had no growth in services and therefore remain dependent on the declining manufacturing sector and government jobs.

The trade specialisation theory argues that countries are specialising in certain goods and then trading with them on the international market. The UK experienced deficits in its trade balance after the Second World War due to reduced income from its manufacturing exports and the rising costs of raw materials and food, which are traditionally imported by the UK. Since it had limited ability to borrow, it had to raise manufacturing outputs to have a non-negative trade balance. Because of exports of North Sea oil, lower costs of food imports and rising value of service exports, the non-manufacturing sector started to generate surplus in the 1980’s. Manufacturing export value was therefore declining because it didn't have to produce surpluses any more and started importing. (Martin and Rowthorn 1986)

Figure 3 Components of the UK Balance of Payments (Rowthorn and Coutts 2013)

The failure thesis argues that the economic record has been poor, because of the weak performance of the manufacturing industry. It argues that due to the spill-over effect of manufacturing, the employment in the whole industry would have risen with a stronger manufacturing sector.
The performance of the manufacturing sector has been poor compared to the major OECD Countries, especially since the oil crisis in 1973 and when the Thatcher government took office in 1979. But the output of manufacturing is rising since the 1980s and is at least as great as in the 1960 and this can't be considered as a failure. The fall in employment in manufacturing is rather explained by the movement to high-skilled and low labour-intensive production. (Fothergill and Gore 2013)

Figure 4 Real Output and Total Employment in UK Manufacturing, 1978-2010

Office of National statistics(2013)

The disinvestment thesis argues that neoliberal political economy is responsible for the decline. In the mid-1970s the political economy was changing from a social democratic to a neoliberal one, influenced by the Thatcher government. The Government removed capital export controls and allowed nationalised industries to source from abroad, such that their markets opened to international competition.
This led to losses of hundreds of thousands jobs in private sectors and a similar number in the nationalised industries by the early 1980s. By 2009 almost all of the 400.000 plus jobs that existed in heavy industries in North-east England had disappeared. (Mohan 1999)
Manufacturing companies were outperformed by competition from social market economies, such as Germany or France, which were still protected by their governments.

Figure 5 Share of manufacturing in total employment, G7 countries, 1970-2013

Source: OECD(2013)

The financial Crisis in 2008 hit the UK very hard. The first reason is that the City of London is traditionally trading very actively on the international markets, which brought the crisis to the UK very quickly. The second is that UK markets were highly unregulated and unprotected due to the neoliberal political economy.
Many governments adopted a contractionary fiscal policy in order to finance the huge bailout of the banks. This led to lower aggregate demand in the entire world, the real economy suffered and so did the manufacturing sector. The north of the Country was hit harder by the recession again, because it was more reliant on government and manufacturing jobs. (Martin 2012) The 2008 Crisis is one of 3 major recessionary shocks in the Economy of the UK since the Oil Crisis in 1973. The others were in 1979 and 1990. UK regions reacted differently to these, which shows the resilience of the economy from the regional and national perspective. (Martin 2012)

Figure 6 North East and South East growth trends compared

(Martin 2012)

While the South East was hit with same strength, or stronger as the North East, North West, Scotland and Wales by the recessions, it recovered with much higher pace.
The higher diversity in the economy and the fact that the majority of the country's higher education institutions are in the South East together with the higher availability of foreign capital are key drivers of better resilience in that region. (Martin 2012)

Another change which occurred in the manufacturing sector is the shift of companies from urban to rural sites. The reasons are the lower costs of employment and capital needed, due to lower competition for both inputs compared to urban areas.
The rural sites allow more flexibility for start-up and small, high-technology companies, because plants and employment can be extended more easily. (Martin and Rowthorn 1986)

The raw employment figures may over-state the decline of UK manufacturing.
In the 1960s, large manufacturing companies could be highly self-contained businesses. The increase in ‘out-sourcing’, led to a transfer of jobs from ‘manufacturing’ to the service sector, which also explains the huge expansion of employment in ‘business services’. (Fothergill and Gore 2013)
But the decline is still huge. However, the recent trend of on-shoring of manufacturing shows that it is possible to compete on quality, delivery speed, customisation and even price with producers located in lower-cost locations, what is important for the future development of manufacturing in the UK.

How was academic geography integral to, and influenced by, the establishment and maintenance of the British Empire?

In the late 15th century European countries were competing to find an all-water route to Asia. The motive for this process was the opportunity for trade, European goods could be exchanged for raw materials in much better exchange rates than in Europe. Since the land routes were insecure and very time consuming, the water route was seen as an useful alternative.(Painter, Jeffrey et al. 2009)
Cartography and navigational technology were crucial in this attempt.
The Portuguese, with Vasco de Gama were the first to circumnavigate the African continent and reach India in 1948, while the Spanish fleet, led by Christopher Columbus was the first to reach America in 1492. (Painter, Jeffrey et al. 2009)
This was the beginning of the Spanish and Portuguese empires. While Portugal was focusing on trade and was made up of many tiny possessions, Spain was spreading in south and middle America and stealing gold and silver from the natives. Both countries gained significant wealth from these operations.
In the second half of the sixteenth century Britain, France and the Netherlands closed the gap in the knowledge of cartography and were on their way to build their own empires. (Painter, Jeffrey et al. 2009)

Imperialism and colonialism are practices that were common for empires.
Colonialism is described by Michael Watts as “the establishment and maintenance of rule, for an extended period of time, by a sovereign power over a subordinate and alien people, that is separate from the ruling power” (2000:93)
Imperialism relates to the practice of enacting power over a particular group of people or territory. Empires can therefore be defined as an unequal territorial relationship between states often based on economic exploitation. (Nayak and Jeffrey 2011)
The British Empire was established in the Caribbean and North America in the 17th century. England's superior naval power and geographical knowledge were the reasons for their supremacy on such big territories as well as in the Indian sub-continent, where Portugal, France and a strong local empire were overpowered. (Nayak and Jeffrey 2011)
In the late 18th century two thirds of the sub-continent were under the control of the Empire.
Australia was used as a penal colony from its discovery in 1801, until gold was found 50 years later. After 1851 many emigrants settled there and it became a large exporter of agricultural products together with New Zealand. Increasing demand for raw materials and advances in explorations led to the division of Africa between the European countries in the late 19th century. The British Empire had also colonies there. (Painter, Jeffrey et al. 2009)
Although the present day United States of America were lost in 1782, Canada was gained from France in 1763. The territories of the British Empire covered a quarter of the world's land surface at the end of 19th century. (Nayak and Jeffrey 2011)

In order to control such a huge territory and acquire new ones, the British Empire needed knowledge in many areas like ship-building, construction, cartography and navigation. The consequence was that British universities began teaching academic geography between the 16th and 19th century. (Nayak and Jeffrey 2011)
Like geographical knowledge reinforced the British Empire, it was also dependent on its rise, since it produced mass of information relevant for geography.

This is described as “mapping and naming”.
European countries sought to produce precise maps of the world, to describe the natural environment of different places and their inhabitants in order to control them better.
Those places were than named in familiar terms, mostly in their own language. This was yet another form of possession. (Painter, Jeffrey et al. 2009)

The impact of climate on certain regions was thought to be highly significant and to condition agricultural production, as well as the ways of life and people's biological make-up. It was considered that the human species consisted of different groups such as Caucasian, Negro, Asiatic and so on. They were all believed to have different physical, mental and emotional characteristics. Africans were even considered as a separate species by some writers. It was either argued that racial differences were produced by climatic ones or that god allocated the different races to the climatically appropriate regimes. (Painter, Jeffrey et al. 2009)
The European inhabitants were believed to be hard working, intelligent and rational, while Mediterranean were relaxed and emotional. Hot climates of the tropics were believed to produce morally and physically degenerated and lazy people. Those ideas were widespread and believed to be scientific facts. Even in 1957, they were still used by geographer Griffith Taylor. (Painter, Jeffrey et al. 2009)

Scientists had to explain why Europeans should rule the other races and justify the actions of the British Empire.
The partial adoption of Darwin's theory of evolution, where it is presented as preset and unchangeable was the common approach at that time.
One of those who have done that was the political geographer Friedrich Ratzel (1844-1904). He understood the state as a living organism, which needs living space. When this became insufficient, it has to be expanded. (Jones, Jones et al. 2004)
Ratzel was arguing that stronger states should acquire areas that were not exploited efficiently by their current residents. (Nayak and Jeffrey 2011)
Ratzel's theory is seen as the beginning of political geography.
Political Geography can be defined as the interplay of politics and geography. Politics can be defined as the interaction of power, politics and policy, where power sustains the other two. Geography is defined by the interaction between space, territory and place, with space as the core commodity. Political Geography recognises that these six entities are intrinsically linked and is defined by all of them. (Jones, Jones et al. 2004)

The British Empire is a very good example of the mutual reinforcement of politics and geography, space and power. Although academic geography has developed significantly since the times of imperialism, its influence remains and has left very visible marks on today's world.

Reference List

(2010). "Cambridge Econometrics analysis of ONS." from http://www.camecon.com/Home.aspx. (2013). "OECD." from http://www.oecd.org/. (2013). "Office for National Statistics." from http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/index.html. Coe, N. M. and A. M. Jones (2010). The economic geography of the UK. London, SAGE,: xvi, 264 p. Fothergill, S. and T. Gore (2013). The implications for employment of the shift to high-value manufacturing. Jones, M., et al. (2004). An introduction to political geography space, place and politics. London, Routledge,: 202 p. An Introduction to Political Geography provides a broad-based introduction to how power interacts with space; how place influences political identities; and how policy creates and remoulds territory.

Martin, R. (2012). "Regional economic resilience, hysteresis and recessionary shocks." Journal of Economic Geography. Martin, R. L. and B. Rowthorn (1986). The Geography of de-industrialisation. London, Macmillan. Mohan, J. (1999). A United Kingdom? : economic, social and political geographies. London, Arnold. Nayak, A. and A. S. Jeffrey (2011). Geographical thought : an introduction to ideas in human geography. Harlow, Prentice Hall. Painter, J., et al. (2009). Political geography : an introduction to space and power. London, SAGE. Rowthorn, R. and K. Coutts (2013). De-industrialisation and the balance of payments in advanced economies.

Similar Documents

Free Essay

Economic Geography

...ECONOMIC GEOGRAPHY Y U K O A O YA M A J A M E S T. M U R P H Y SUSAN HANSON KEY CONCEPTS IN key concepts in economic geography The Key Concepts in Human Geography series is intended to provide a set of companion texts for the core fields of the discipline. To date, students and academics have been relatively poorly served with regards to detailed discussions of the key concepts that geographers use to think about and understand the world. Dictionary entries are usually terse and restricted in their depth of explanation. Student textbooks tend to provide broad overviews of particular topics or the philosophy of Human Geography, but rarely provide a detailed overview of particular concepts, their premises, development over time and empirical use. Research monographs most often focus on particular issues and a limited number of concepts at a very advanced level, so do not offer an expansive and accessible overview of the variety of concepts in use within a subdiscipline. The Key Concepts in Human Geography series seeks to fill this gap, providing detailed description and discussion of the concepts that are at the heart of theoretical and empirical research in contemporary Human Geography. Each book consists of an introductory chapter that outlines the major conceptual developments over time along with approximately twenty-five entries on the core concepts that constitute the theoretical toolkit of geographers working within a specific subdiscipline. Each entry provides...

Words: 94626 - Pages: 379

Premium Essay

Videogames

...Journal of Economic Geography Advance Access published June 22, 2005 Journal of Economic Geography (2005) Page 1 of 30 doi:10.1093/jeg/lbi001 Video games production networks: value capture, power relations and embeddedness Jennifer Johns* Abstract This paper has two main aims. Firstly to conceptualize the production networks of the video games industry through an examination of its evolution into a multi-million dollar industry. Secondly, to use the video games industry to demonstrate the utility of Global Production Network approaches to understanding the geographically uneven impacts of globalization processes. In particular, three key notions of value, power and embeddedness are used to reveal the most powerful actors in the production network, how they maintain and exercise their power, and how the organization of production is manipulated as a result. It is argued that while hardware production is organized by console manufacturers using truly global sourcing strategies, the production of software is far more complex. In fact, software production networks are bounded within three major economic regions: Western Europe, North America and Asia Pacific. This paper seeks to explain how and why this has occurred. Keywords: video games, global production networks, value, power, embeddedness JEL classifications: L14, L23, L82 Date submitted: 4 October 2004 Date accepted: 12 April 2005 1. Introduction The video games industry1 was born during the early 1960s and has rapidly...

Words: 14381 - Pages: 58

Premium Essay

H&M Company Profile

...H & M Hennes & Mauritz AB Company Profile Publication Date: 10 Jun 2011 www.datamonitor.com Europe, Middle East & Africa 119 Farringdon Road London EC1R 3DA United Kingdom t: +44 20 7551 9000 f: +44 20 7551 9090 e: euroinfo@datamonitor.com Americas 245 5th Avenue 4th Floor New York, NY 10016 USA t: +1 212 686 7400 f: +1 212 686 2626 e: usinfo@datamonitor.com Asia Pacific Level 46 2 Park Street Sydney, NSW 2000 Australia t: +61 2 8705 6900 f: +61 2 8088 7405 e: apinfo@datamonitor.com H & M Hennes & Mauritz AB ABOUT DATAMONITOR Datamonitor is a leading business information company specializing in industry analysis. Through its proprietary databases and wealth of expertise, Datamonitor provides clients with unbiased expert analysis and in depth forecasts for six industry sectors: Healthcare, Technology, Automotive, Energy, Consumer Markets, and Financial Services. The company also advises clients on the impact that new technology and eCommerce will have on their businesses. Datamonitor maintains its headquarters in London, and regional offices in New York, Frankfurt, and Hong Kong. The company serves the world's largest 5000 companies. Datamonitor's premium reports are based on primary research with industry panels and consumers. We gather information on market segmentation, market growth and pricing, competitors and products. Our experts then interpret this data to produce detailed forecasts and actionable recommendations, helping you create new business opportunities...

Words: 8313 - Pages: 34

Premium Essay

Dunning

...evolution of the eclectic paradigm from the mid-1950s to the present day. It does so in the light of the changing characteristics of MNE activity and of the global economic scenario. The article concludes by asserting that the eclectic paradigm still remains a powerful and robust framework for examining contextual specific theories of foreign direct investment and international production. Key words: Eclectic paradigm; FDI; MNEs; Strategy; International production; Alliances. JEL classifications: F21, F23, M21. 1. Its Origins Although the eclectic paradigm (or the eclectic theory as it was initially called) of international production was first put forward by the present author at a Nobel Symposium in Stockholm in 1976, its origins can be traced back to the mid-1950s. At that time, I was writing my PhD thesis, later to be published as a book (Dunning, 1958), on US direct investment in British manufacturing industry. Earlier research by Rostas (1948), Frankel (1955) and some Anglo ± American study teams1 had shown that the labour productivity in US manufacturing industry was, on average, 2 to 5 times higher than that in UK industry. The question this fact posed in my mind was: was this difference in productivity a reflection of the superior indigenous (and immobile) resources of the US (cf. the UK) economy; or was it due to the more proficient way in which the managers of US firms (cf. UK firms) harnessed and organised these resources? ± a capability which, I argued, at least to some...

Words: 10410 - Pages: 42

Premium Essay

Glowchams

...Assignment: Business Environment Table of Contents: Executive Summary...................................................................................................................3 Assignment I- Task 1 P1. Type of business, purpose and ownership...........................................................................3 P2, M1. Different stakeholders that influence the purpose of the business...............................3 D1.Influence of stakeholders…………...………………………………………………..…...5 Assignment I- Task 2 P3, P4. Describe how two businesses are organized, and how the structure helps the businesses in fulfilling their purpose……………………………………………………….....5 Assignment II- Task 1 P5, M2. Two contrasting environments influence on business, and their challenges................8 P6, M3. Political, Legal, Social factors and challenges that affect the two businesses ...….....8 D2 Changes in political, legal, social, and economic factors may impact on organization strategy……………………………………………………………………………………......9 Bibliography............................................................................................................................11 Executive Summary: The business environment is a mix of all the internal and external factors that have influence on the business. All the factors that are under the control of the business do not form part of business environment. Some of the examples of these factors affecting...

Words: 3832 - Pages: 16

Premium Essay

Accounting

...Ernst & Young “Business Leaders of Tomorrow” Case Contest Bigg Glowbell (BG) Case Study Table of Contents Table of Contents ................................................................................................................................................ 1 Assignment Background .................................................................................................................................. 2 Bigg-Glowbell Overview ...................................................................................................................................... 3 The Company History ...................................................................................................................................... 3 Revenue and Profits ........................................................................................................................................ 5 Bigg-Glowbell Global Locations ....................................................................................................................... 6 Bigg-Glowbell Organization, Products and Services ........................................................................................ 7 Ownership ..................................................................................................................................................... 14 Strategic Issues ..............................................................................................................................

Words: 12472 - Pages: 50

Premium Essay

Fdi and Sustainability of Malaysia Technology-Based Firms

...Track 5: FDI Location, Clusters and Spillovers Workshop Paper Foreign Investment and the Sustainability of Malaysian Bumiputera (Indigenous) Technology-Based Firms Umar Haiyat Abdul Kohar School of Management, RMIT University, Melbourne, Australia Email: umarhaiyat.abdulkohar@rmit.edu.au Associate Professor Adela McMurray School of Management, RMIT University, Melbourne, Australia Email: adela.mcmurray@rmit.edu.au Dr. Konrad Peszynski School of Business Information Technology, RMIT University, Melbourne, Australia Email: konrad.peszynski@rmit.edu.au 1 Foreign Investment and the Sustainability of Malaysian Bumiputera Technology-Based Firms ABSTRACT In the new global economy, the importance of inward foreign investment towards a country’s economic growth has become a central issue, especially amongst developing countries. Nevertheless, there is a paucity of literature addressing the implications of foreign investment towards the sustainability of business amongst Malaysian Bumiputera (Indigenous) new technology-based firms (NTBFs). Utilizing Weick’s (1989) conceptual theory building approach, this study provides a foundation for conceptualizing the implications of foreign investment in Malaysian Bumiputera new technology-based firms. Through systematic documentary analysis of the development of foreign investment activities in Malaysia prior to independence (1957) until 2009, our consolidated findings yield a conceptual model showing the implications...

Words: 8065 - Pages: 33

Premium Essay

Globalization and Strategies Plan of Apple

...Journal of Property Investment & Finance Emerald Article: Inflation and rental change in industrial property: A multi-level analysis Catherine Jackson, Michael White Article information: To cite this document: Catherine Jackson, Michael White, (2005),"Inflation and rental change in industrial property: A multi-level analysis", Journal of Property Investment & Finance, Vol. 23 Iss: 4 pp. 342 - 363 Permanent link to this document: http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/14635780510602417 Downloaded on: 02-11-2012 References: This document contains references to 41 other documents Citations: This document has been cited by 1 other documents To copy this document: permissions@emeraldinsight.com This document has been downloaded 1025 times since 2005. * Access to this document was granted through an Emerald subscription provided by UNIVERSITI MALAYSIA PERLIS For Authors: If you would like to write for this, or any other Emerald publication, then please use our Emerald for Authors service. Information about how to choose which publication to write for and submission guidelines are available for all. Please visit www.emeraldinsight.com/authors for more information. About Emerald www.emeraldinsight.com With over forty years' experience, Emerald Group Publishing is a leading independent publisher of global research with impact in business, society, public policy and education. In total, Emerald publishes over 275 journals and more than 130 book series, as well as an extensive range of online...

Words: 10213 - Pages: 41

Premium Essay

Hnhjjh

...sold 1,212 units in 2008 – an increase of 53% compared to 2004 (BMW Annual Report 2008, pp6-7). The company has not only one of the strongest brands worldwide and exclusively high profit margins of 8 – 10% but since 2007 it has been the world's top seller in the premium class (Hawranek, 2008). Automobiles market in the 2000s The next chapter will investigate the main trends within the automobile market starting with a general overview, followed by wider analyses of the environment as well as investigation of the competition in the car market. General overview In the 21st century the car industry can be described as mature, highly competitive and very dynamic. Despite being considered as global, automobile industry constitutes of three major areas – USA, Japan and Western Europe which together accounts for 80% of total sales (Lynch, 2006, p698) as well as almost 90% of total output (Donnelly et. al., 2002, 31). New markets, such as China, South America and Eastern Europe are emerging; however, as Lynch points out (2006, p697) the level of wealth differs among the various regions leading to highly varying customer preferences which need to be considered when entering new markets. As a result of the fierce competition, the structure of the car industry has been changing radically. Extensive consolidation through acquisitions, joint ventures and strategic alliances has been taking place....

Words: 4399 - Pages: 18

Premium Essay

Internnational Retailing

...This article was downloaded by: [Manchester Metropolitan University] On: 18 November 2011, At: 08:18 Publisher: Routledge Informa Ltd Registered in England and Wales Registered Number: 1072954 Registered office: Mortimer House, 37-41 Mortimer Street, London W1T 3JH, UK The International Review of Retail, Distribution and Consumer Research Publication details, including instructions for authors and subscription information: http://www.tandfonline.com/loi/rirr20 Failure in international retailing: research propositions Steve Burt , John Dawson & Leigh Sparks a a b c Institute for Retail Studies, University of Stirling, Stirling FK9 4LA, UK E-mail: s.l.burt@stir.ac.uk b The University of Edinburgh Management School, 50 George Square, Edinburgh EH8 9YI, UK E-mail: john.dawson@ed.ac.uk c Institute for Retail Studies, University of Stirling, Stirling FK9 4LA, UK E-mail: leigh.sparks@stir.ac.uk Available online: 15 Apr 2011 To cite this article: Steve Burt, John Dawson & Leigh Sparks (2003): Failure in international retailing: research propositions, The International Review of Retail, Distribution and Consumer Research, 13:4, 355-373 To link to this article: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/0959396032000129471 PLEASE SCROLL DOWN FOR ARTICLE Full terms and conditions of use: http://www.tandfonline.com/page/terms-andconditions This article may be used for research, teaching, and private study purposes. Any substantial or systematic reproduction, redistribution, reselling...

Words: 10620 - Pages: 43

Premium Essay

Agriculture

...Agriculture, growth and poverty reduction This paper was produced by the Agriculture and Natural Resources Team of the UK Department for International Development (DFID) in collaboration with Anne Thomson of Oxford Policy Management, Oxford. The authors are grateful to the UK Food Group for their additional contributions and comments. The paper reflects work in progress towards the development of new thinking on agricultural policy in DFID. It does not necessarily reflect the views and policy of DFID. This (working/supporting) paper is intended to stimulate public discussion. It is not necessarily DFID or UK Government policy. October 2004 Contents Executive Summary...................................................................................................... 3 1. What is the issue? .................................................................................................... 4 2. Agriculture, growth and poverty – what we know of the relationship ............................ 5 2.1 The context – the state of world poverty............................................................... 5 2.2 Agriculture’s recent performance – a picture of mixed progress............................... 7 2.3 Agricultural growth and poverty reduction – the evidence....................................... 9 2.4 Understanding how increased agricultural productivity reduces poverty ................. 10 3. Emerging issues and questions................................................

Words: 10970 - Pages: 44

Premium Essay

Globalization

...Special articles Globalisation and the Management of Indian Cities Cities in Europe and North America have been through three decades of innovation in institutions and practices as they seek to accommodate the new environment of global economic integration. Many have learned to facilitate the creation of new economies that have institutionalised incremental change with a changing political consensus, liberating themselves in part from those rigidities that make for extreme vulnerability in conditions of crisis. The same is also true of cities in Latin America and in China. However, elsewhere – including possibly India – the sovereign state is often still struggling to retain its monopoly control. In doing so, the state stifles the full potential role of cities to advance the world, to reduce the burden of world poverty. Liberating the cities is thus a key part of the agenda for the new century and for the eradication of poverty. NIGEL HARRIS I Introduction his paper seeks to present a view of the era of globalisation through highlighting particular changes which mark the break with the preceding period, the heyday of the nationstate. The exercise is undertaken in order to assess the resulting radical changes in the conception of spatial planning and thus the emergence of a new agenda for the management of cities. Following the introduction, the second part seeks to clarify what might be meant by ‘globalisation’, and the third, the main features of the management of the...

Words: 10131 - Pages: 41

Premium Essay

The 2011 London Riots: Expression of Urban Social Inequality

...The 4th of August 2011 the police shot Mark Duggan, a black man living in Tottenham – a borough in Greater London. The event created a strong reaction form the local youth. After a march on Tottenham Police station to protest the death of the man, the demonstration turned into a series of violent acts in the streets that quickly developed and spread across London and other cities all over England. A major debate arose about the inner causes of the insurrections and the media and politicians promptly pointed out several hypothesis. The August 2011 events have been primarily interpreted, especially amongst the political class, through a lens that emphasises criminality. ,one prominent argument advocates that the cause of the unrest was the moral decay of ‘a feral underclass’ (Scrambler; Grover 2011) However, many of such explanations tend to be mostly speculative and they often fail to provide a consistent account of the causes of the riots based on solid evidence (the LSE/theguardian, 2011, Solomos, 2011). Against this background this essay attempts to disentangle the motives of the London 2011 riots, by focusing on the relations of causality between factors and events that led to the burst of the unrest. It argues that urban social inequalities as well as uneven processes of exclusion and inclusion of a marginalised class are the main factor underlying the disturbances. Yet this essay claims that these riots need also to be analysed in the very specific context in which...

Words: 3372 - Pages: 14

Premium Essay

Business Luxury

...VIDEO on FT.com Lionel Barber, Martin Wolf and Vanessa Friedman interview leading figures at the FT luxury summit in Monte Carlo FT.com/luxury-video SPECIAL REPORT | Monday June 15 2009 www.ft.com/business-luxury-2009 Slimming all the rage as belts tighten Haig Simonian investigates the problems faced by luxury goods conglomerates in the current market F or years, equity analysts urged Johann Rupert to spin off tobacco and turn Richemont, the company he chairs and controls, into a “pure play” luxury goods group. In 2008, the independently-minded Mr Rupert finally took heed and returned Richemont’s stake in British American Tobacco to shareholders, leaving his group focused on Cartier jewellery, Montblanc pens and much else. Today, some of the same pundits are regretting the loss of those high and stable BAT dividends, as the world’s luxury goods industry struggles with its biggest challenges in decades. Demand has tumbled virtually across the globe with no clear sign of recovery. Manufacturers from LVMH Möet Hennessy Louis Vuitton, the world’s biggest luxury goods group, to Italy’s Bulgari, find themselves saddled with stubbornly high costs, leaving little room for manoeuvre. Even beauty has proved vulnerable, contrary to the common claim, as figures for L’Oréal and others show. On top of the market problems, the sector faces tough secular change. Globalisation has put a premium on size – but sheer mass risks diluting the exclusivity that is luxury groups’ key...

Words: 10171 - Pages: 41

Free Essay

Chapter 1 Human Geo Notes

...Chapter 1 - Geography Matters: Definitions: * Human geography the study of the spatial organization of human activity and of people’s relationships with their environments * Cartography: the body of practical and theoretical knowledge about making distinctive visual representations of Earth’s surface in the form of maps * Map projection: a systematic rendering on a flat surface of the geographic coordinates of the features found on Earth’s surface * Ethnocentrism: the attitude that a persona’s own race and culture are superior to those of others * Imperialism: the extension of the power of a nation through direct/indirect control of the economic and political life of other territories * Masculinism: the assumption that the world is and should be shaped mainly by men for men * environmental determinism: a doctrine holding that human activities are controlled by the environment * globalization: the increasing interconnectedness of different parts of the world through common processes of economic, environmental political and cultural change * ecumene: the total habitable area of a country. Sine it depends on the prevailing technology, the available ecumene varies over time. Canada’s ecumene is so much less than its total area. * Geodemographic research: investigation using census data and commercial data (i.e. sales data and property records) about populations of small districts to create profiles of those populations for market research ...

Words: 24912 - Pages: 100