structural economic change in birmingham

• where is Birmingham located?

  - heart of the west midlands
• how many residents?


  - in 2019 there were 1.1 mill

  - 2nd biggest city after London
• what was Birmingham's impact on British industry?

  - machinery invented therefor processing cotton, metalworking, steam engines, x-rays, radar etc

  - majority of inventions originated within 50km of the city

  - 25% British manufactured exports originate from here
• describe Birmingham's development to the 1960's


  - 1st players (Birmingham family) who purchased a royal charter in 1166 that allowed a market. place grew as a result of trade

  - metal smelting in the Black Country area to the west supported raw materials for metal working trades
• what happened during the industrial revolution?

  - by 1700 pop grew to 15000. migration from surrounding rural areas for unemployment

  - increasing middle classes working in service sector to support industry, law, banking ie lloyds

  - differentiated housing based on socio-economic status

  - 19th cent saw extraordinary growth, gun jewellery, button and brass industries dominated

  - transport infrastructure developed, national canal network, Birmingham railway (1838)
• who were the most important players in Birmingham during this time? why?

  - banks

  supported industry

  - Matthew Boulton

  established first in the world 1761. 'soho manufactory' brought 700 employees

  - cadbury family

  set up the bournville factory and village for workers SE of city
• how did Birmingham's economic growth from 1900-1950s impact employment?

  - increased employment

  > 60% men in skilled work

  > vehicle industry expanded, dunlop tyre offered 10000 jobs

  > new engineering industries - Austin car plant 1906

  > chemical industry developed
• how did Birmingham's economic growth from 1900-1950s impact population?

  - population grew

  > natural increase and immigration from rural areas

  > until 1950's population mainly white in ethnicity
• how did Birmingham's economic growth from 1900-1950s impact housing?

  - large areas of terraced housing for workers near factories

  > inter war suburbs (between wars of 1918 and 39 ie Northfield) developed, semi detached and detached housing plus large local authority housing estates

  > inner city areas poor quality, high-density housing
• how did Birmingham's economic growth from 1900-1950s impact environment?


  - environmental quality declined

  > decades of industrial activity has left land sites, canals, rivers with high levels of pollution

  > air pollution reached high levels with controls on emissions virtually non-existent
• describe post-war Birmingham - industrial decline

  - 1950's and 60s Birmingham prospered, unemployment below 1%

  - 1970-1983 earnings fell from highest in UK to almost lowest in any region

  - 1982 unemployment reached 19.4%
• who were the most important players in Birmingham during the industrial decline? why?

  - foreign based TNCs taken industry abroad that are cheaper

  - better value, reliable Japanese car manufacturers

  - relations between car manufacturers and unions not good so frequent strikes

  - local authority > replaced SMEs (small, medium enterprises) with slum clearance areas, SMEs can't afford premises
• what was the impact of industrial decline on the economy?

  - 1970s global recession

  - decline of secondary sector

  - loss of 150,000 jobs in the car industry (halved)
• what was the impact of industrial decline on housing?

  - during WW2 5000 houses destroyed

  - after WW2, 110 thousand sub-standard houses

  - 1950s & 60s 400 tower blocks

  - 1945-1970 81 thousand new dwellings to replace slums

  - people redistributed to peripheral estates

  - commuters increased
• what was the impact of industrial decline on the environment?

  - national and local gov established green belt around city

  - restrict outward expansion

  - increased land val adjacent to green belt (solihull)
• what was the impact of industrial decline on the demography?

  - International immigration from Caribbean, South Asia and Far East densely populated with diverse ethnicity

  - balti triangle > changed culture

  - cosmopolitan city - religious landscape

  - great diversity of ethnic food shops, restaurants, clothing and fabric shops

  - youthful population compared to England 38% < 24yrs (eng 31)
• what is the role of government in recent regeneration?

  - local gov promotes inward investment eg national exhibition centre

  - late C20 national gov schemes help places in need of redevelopment

  - city council has European and international affairs team - promote Birmingham beyond UK & gain funding

  - EU £235 mill from EU social investment fund 2014-20 improving run down housing
• what is the role of planning & flagship developments in recent regeneration?

  - planning to bring physical change acts as a catalyst for socio-economic change

  - public spaces being developed eg centenary square, Victoria square and buildings around it refurbished

  - EU funded international convention centre and symphony hall. cultural player attracts conferences - multiplier effect evident as hotels, restaurants
• what other players exist in recent regeneration?

  - universities > combined student pop 50000, contributes to youthful pop and bring wealth. employ large no. of people who then have income to spend. huge market for goods and services

  - bullring development 1960s first major indoor shopping centre

  - upgrade of environment > pedestrianised streets, high qual street furniture

  - canal and river trust > oversee cleaning & restoring canals

  - local gov and private sector regenerate gas street basin and brindleyplace
• what is the role of transport in recent regeneration?

  - dramatic imp to infrastructure over 20 yrs

  - new street station transformed with £700mill investment creating grand central area with shops, restaurants

  - HS2 phase 1 high speed railway

  - vast motorway network developed by government, private investment.
• what is the impact of the recent regeneration on the economy?

  - uni provides students, students are a huge market for goods and services

  - work experience programmes to imp employment opps

  - ICC and symphony. multiplier effect evident as hotels, restaurants, facilities bring tourists
• what is the impact of the recent regeneration on housing?

  - rundown housing has been removed and replaced by semi detached houses for low inc. earners

  - student housing
• what is the impact of the recent regeneration on the demography?

  - uni results in youthful pop
• what is the impact of the recent regeneration on the environment?


  - upgrade enviro

  - pedestrianised streets, trees, high quality street furniture
• what is structural economic change?


  shift from primary/secondary to tertiary/quaternary
• what are the causes of de-industrialisation?

  - manufacturing has relocated to EDCs due to factors inc:

  > increase in cheap labour

  > emergence of TNCs

  > incentives from gov
• how are flows of people affected?

  from 1980s the New International Division of labour gathered pace

  - TNCs created labour intensive factories in what were called newly industrialised countries mainly in East Asia
• how are flows of goods affected?

  containerisation and bulk handling bought down relative cost dramatically + contributed to locational changes
• how was Birmingham affect by a negative global shift?

  many trades have declined and the city faced problems of deindustrialization
• how has Birmingham addressed a negative global shift?

  - several initiatives are underway to provide job opps

  > trying to place emphasis of knowledge economy

  - research park, attract research led companies to work in partnership