Connection, Economic & Social Characteristics (Edexcel A Level Geography)

• Regional and national influences shape the social and economic characteristics of places, both through past and present connections
• Transport connections
  • Larger settlements often have multiple transport routes e.g. motorways, rail
    • Reading is a preferred location for high-tech industries
    • It is within the M4 corridor and close to Heathrow
    • It has several principal railway routes

Transport infrastructure of Reading

• • Smaller or more peripheral settlements often have fewer major road and rail connections 
    • Middlesbrough has a limited transport infrastructure (e.g. only 1 regional railway line and not located next to a motorway)
    • This makes it harder to link up to other urban areas e.g. Leeds and London

Transport infrastructure of Middlesbrough

• Settlement connections
  • Major settlements nearby can offer opportunities for collaborative working e.g. 
    • • Universities working together to address common challenges (climate change)
      • Sharing of resources to attract investment and develop industries
• Industrial connections - places can have long histories with certain industries
  • Middlesbrough’s industrial growth was initially driven by iron ore deposits. These are now exhausted
  • The iron and steel industry has declined due to deindustrialisation. This has left high unemployment levels in Middlesbrough
• Local enterprise organisations
  • Local charitable trusts funding local initiatives 
    • E.g. The Teesside Charity provides social and economic opportunities for the long-term unemployed, those living in poverty and the homeless
  • Local tourism boards work to promote the area to visitors

• National policies
  • Different migration policies may impact the demographics 
    • E.g. the Windrush Generation - immigrants arriving from the Commonwealth to fill labour shortages after World War II
  • The Northern Powerhouse Initiative (2010-15) was a scheme designed to boost economic growth and productivity in northern cities
  • UK’s Green Belt policy aims to prevent urban sprawl by keeping land around major urban areas open and undeveloped
    • Reading is an attractive place for development. It lies outside of London’s greenbelt, which has also drawn more migrants to Reading

The London Metropolitan Green Belt

Impact on people

• All places have a perceived image, which shapes people’s view of the place as either positive or negative 
  • Reading could be perceived as a more modern, busy place, where there is lots to do
  • Middlesbrough could be perceived as more industrial and less attractive
• These images and perceptions can affect the lives of students and other groups of people:
  • Students might not want to study at the university due to their perception of the place
  • Young people may feel they want to leave a place with a poor image 
  • Places with more positive images tend to attract more people
  • There are likely to be more job opportunities in places with positive images as companies are also attracted to them
• Continuity (things staying the same) and change affect people in different ways 

• Deindustrialisation 

• • The connection between people and local industries can remain strong even after the industry has disappeared e.g. the steel industry in Middlesbrough
  • If the abandoned buildings remain, with no development, young people and migrants often perceive the area as run-down with fewer economic opportunities
  • Development of the area may attract migrants, with a wider set of skills, in search of employment opportunities
  • Older workers with the original, older industrial skill set may resent the new forms of industry and the migrants

• In-migration

• • With new economic development, places can attract a younger and more ethnically diverse population
  • Some people may welcome this diversity and learn more about the different cultures
  • Other people may not like the change in the demographics of the local area and oppose in-migration

• Development of the Internet

• It has changed the retail sector of settlements
• Online shopping (e.g. Amazon) is in direct competition with the high street shops (e.g. Wilkinsons), causing lots of businesses to close, particularly in smaller towns, which increases unemployment

• International and global influences can also shape the social and economic characteristics of places 
• E.g. demographics may change if there is free movement of migration

• Transnational corporations (TNCs) may set up part of their business in an area, creating jobs and enabling economic growth
  • Global brands like Verizon, Oracle, Microsoft, Cisco, Pepsico and Vodafone are all located in Reading International Business Park

• Globalisation and TNCs have contributed to deindustrialisation with the global shift in manufacturing to emerging and developing countries

• • In these countries, wages are lower and working hours are longer, so TNCs make more profit
  • The global shift in the manufacturing industry led to iron, coke and steel factory closures in Middlesbrough, with subsequent job losses 
  • One steel factory closure led to the loss of 2,200 jobs in Middlesbrough

• European Union (EU) policies (prior to Brexit)

• The UK had access to the EU Development Funds, which were used to stimulate economic growth
• Middlesbrough received EU economic development funding as a 'Transition Region', but less funding than areas like Cornwall and Wales
• The free movement of people gave EU citizens the right to travel, live and work in any EU country
• The free movement of goods amongst EU countries, without import and export tax
• Global competition may cause a place to experience economic decline
• Global competition has made Middlesbrough’s steel and petrochemicals industries less profitable
• Tourism can increase the amount of international visitors, when a place advertises its unique features
• Many globally known tourist sites (Windsor Castle, Legoland, Ascot racecourse) are close to Reading
• International transport connections make places more accessible and attractive to TNCs
• Reading is close to the economic core of the EU, with Heathrow and the Channel Tunnel nearby

• Economic and social changes in an area can affect the lives of people and influence their identity
• As places change due to social and economic forces:
• Some people embrace the change (e.g. increasing diversity)
• Other people may feel that the original identity of a place has been lost

Identity

• Where people share similar ideals and values, a community (with shared beliefs and a way of life) can form and create a collective identity
• This collective identity can connect to the place where people live or work

Social and economic changes

• Any changes to the place can impact how people view themselves and alter their sense of belonging to that community
• Migration to a place can change the sense of community
• If a place is economically successful, it can attract more migrants, leading to a more diverse community
• Migrants bring their own cultures (beliefs, values, way of life), which can enhance the local community
• The mixing of cultures can make people more tolerant and open-minded
• E.g. Reading Carnival, which has been going on for 40 years, was started by the Caribbean people to celebrate their culture with the rest of the town
• However, local people may feel their community is being eroded by the addition of new cultures
• If there is a strong place identity, an influx of migrants could weaken this
• Feelings of cultural erosion can lead to racial tension between different ethnic groups
• E.g. Middlesbrough has received one of the highest amount of asylum seekers in England, which has led to some locals complaining about the increased strain on health and schools

• • Industrial change 
    • If the function of a place changes, old industries may close down and new industries could develop
    • This could lead to a divided community between those people who can work in the new economy and those who have lost their jobs
    • The rise in inequality can affect the identity of people in the area, as the people who are now unemployed may feel isolated