CGP Changing Places- Shifting Flows

• Changing Places - Shifting Flows

  As places change, the flows of things in and out of places can affect the characteristics of those places
• External Flows cause Places to Change
• Places are constantly changing because all the things that create their character are constantly changing
• The angular character of many places has changed because of the external influences that have occurred
• Flows


  Flows of people, money, resources and ideas between places have increased, due to factors that have made it easier for people and goods to be transported, and communications
• Flows have made places become more strongly connected to each other, and over increasing distances - this is globalisation
• Demographic Change is Caused by Shifting Flows
• Demographic characteristics


  Who lives in a place and what they are like, including factors such as age, gender, education level, religion, birth rates, ethnicity and population size
• Flows of people can change any of the demographic characteristics of a place, e.g. the age or gender balance
• Demographic changes caused by flows

  • Younger people leaving Uckfield in East Sussex as they cannot afford housing, leaving an increasingly high proportion of older people
  • Large-scale migration from North Africa to Europe altering the gender balance of some host towns, as a high proportion of migrants are male
• Flows of money and investment, by governments or businesses, can change the demographic characteristics of places
• Demographic changes caused by flows of money and investment

  • London Docklands Development Corporation redeveloping the Docklands area, resulting in an increase in population
  • Organisations like the UNFPA spreading knowledge and resources about birth control, affecting population size in some of the poorest countries
• These Flows Also Affect the Cultural Characteristics of a Place
• Cultural characteristics


  How people live their lives, e.g. the foods, customs, clothing traditions, language, art, attitudes, beliefs and values people have
• The cultural characteristics of places can change due to the effects of changing external flows
• Cultural changes caused by flows of people

  • Mass international migrations to the UK from India, Pakistan and other Commonwealth countries creating multi-ethnic communities
  • Fast food companies from the USA opening restaurants in China, changing eating habits
• Economic Characteristics are Affected by Many Different Flows
• Economic characteristics

  Employment rates and the types of jobs available
• Economic changes caused by flows of people


  • Cornwall changing from a fishing settlement to a popular tourist destination, altering the types of jobs available
• Economic changes caused by flows of resources


  • The Scottish whisky industry growing due to international exports, bringing employment and prosperity to a wide range of places
• Economic changes caused by flows of money and investment


  • Reduced investment and competition from global markets leading to the decline of primary industries in the UK, damaging local economies
  • Investment in the finance industries in the City of London creating many high value service sector jobs
• These Flows also Affect Social Inequality
• Social characteristics


  What people's lives are like, e.g. their overall quality of life, access to adequate food, healthcare, education, sanitation, leisure activities
• Social inequality


  Differences in these social factors between different groups of people
• Social changes caused by flows of people

  • Rural to urban migration in India resulting in the development of slums in cities, with migrants often having a very low quality of life compared to wealthier residents
• Social changes caused by flows of resources

  • Wealth from oil extraction in Nigeria going to a few individuals while large numbers remain in poverty
• Social changes caused by flows of money and investment

  • Gentrification in Notting Hill, London improving the area but also increasing inequality between wealthier newcomers and existing poorer residents