ENVSOCTY1HB3_SUMMER2022_FINALEXAM
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ENVSOCTY 1HB3 – Population, Cities & Development
Summer 2022
FINAL EXAM
Fina Exam Logistics
Final Exam Date: Wednesday, August 3
rd
, 2022
Final Exam Duration: 150 mins
Final Exam Weighting: This Exam is worth 30% of your final course grade
Special Instructions
This is an exam and is intended to be completed ON YOUR OWN; collaboration with others is
strictly prohibited. Any evidence of collaboration will be regarded as academic dishonesty
.
This is an OPEN-BOOK exam, meaning you MAY have your notes, textbook, etc. with you while your write the test. Remember, your responses to all questions need to be in your own words
.
For each question, type your response immediately below the question. Pay strict attention to the submission instructions (below). Submission Instructions
Download this file to your computer and save it before you begin.
Be sure to save your file frequently while you are answering your questions and be sure to save it again before you are finished.
Upload your completed document to the Avenue to Learn Drop-Box (Midterm) BEFORE 8:30 PM.
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Questions
Begin typing your answer in the space immediately below each question.
PART A: SHORT ANSWER
1.
First, define distribution. Next, using the diagram below (a hypothetical map of coffee shops in an urban area), briefly explain the three forms of distribution in terms of the coffee shops. (
2 marks
)
Distribution is the arrangement of features across a given area. In terms of human geography this
refers to the concentration of a given feature within a defined area (where are clusters of this feature found?), the density of the feature with the area (represented by # of features/km^2), and the pattern of dispersal (random, ordered, linear, etc.). The density of coffee shops in this map is 25 coffee shops/200km^2, or 1 coffee shop/8km^2. There are clustered fairly lineraly, conforming to the uniform/linear pattern of the roads in the map. There are primarily clustered on the east side of the map.
2.
Explain what kind of thematic map you would use to illustrate the spatial problem of population density. (
2 marks
)
To illustrate the spatial problem of population density I would likely use a dot map. I would choose this type of map because it can reveal patterns of spatial clustering/dispersion and is an easy-to-read way to represent population dynamics. Given we are looking to represent the spatial
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aspect of population density, as opposed to simply population density over specific regions, a dot
map would be more appropriate than a choropleth map or cartogram because it would allow for a
more specific view of clustering within regions of the map (though these types of maps would also work). For example, A US map of population density would show CA as highly populated on a cartogram or choropleth map, though this wouldn’t specify that most of the population is concentrated in the state’s largest cities. 3.
Define the terms “Global City” and “Megacity” using real-world examples, then explain the difference between the two (2 Marks)
A global city is a city that is a major player in the world’s economic network. These cities are at the top of the global hierarchy and have a high concentration of business and professional services, such as a stock exchange and the headquarters of multinational corporations. Some examples of global cities are; New York, London, Paris, and Tokyo. A megacity is a city with more than 10 million inhabitants. These cities are mostly located in the global south/LDW and generally (though not always) have lower levels of social/economic development. Some examples of megacities are Lagos, Delhi, and Bangkok. While a global city can also be a megacity (ex. Tokyo), this is not common. Megacities tend to have lower levels economic development and have proportion of low income residents working in manufacturing and other lower-skill jobs. In these cities more residents live below the poverty line and population growth is rapid, compared to a global city which is likely slower growing and wealthier. PART B: MEDIUM ANSWER
4.
In your own words, define Wallerstein’s theory and what it tries to explain/ understand. Second, briefly explain how the theory works (what are the key components?). Third, briefly discuss the linkage(s) between the World Systems Theory and theories of colonialism and globalization. (
3 marks
)
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1. What does the theory try to explain/help us understand?
Wallerstein’s theory tries to explain how countries are integrated into the world’s economic system. It also attempts to link a country’s economic status to its stage of economic development and predict the way/timeline for development. The theory also states that the economic system allows some countries to benefit from the exploit of others. 2. How does the theory work?
According to Wallerstein’s theory, the world’s economic system is divided into three types of
countries, core, semi-peripheral, and peripheral.
Core countries are dominant, characterized by high levels of urbanization and development (ex. Germany, US, Canada, Japan). According to this theory, core countries exploit the peripheral countries for both cheap labour and raw materials.
Periphery countries are dependent on core countries and are often underdeveloped (low literacy rates, little internet access). These countries are often primarily agricultural societies and have high levels of worker exploitation (Nigeria, Bangladesh). Semi-periphery countries share characteristics of both core and peripheral countries. They are
often more urbanized/industrialized but still have high levels of worker exploitation and are less socially developed (ex. China, India, Brazil). The theory suggests that wealthy countries benefit from low-income countries and exploit citizens of these countries. It also recognized the minimal benefits to peripheral countries in this model. 3. Link between world systems theory & colonialism/globalization theory
World systems theory is rooted in the history of colonialism. It is no coincidence that many peripheral/semi-peripheral countries were once colonial holdings. For example, Nigeria, a peripheral country, was once a British colony. World systems theory would have been Page 4
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applicable during the colonial era – Britain was exploiting many colonial holdings and providing few benefits to people living in the colonies. The legacy of colonialism has lead to the poor and/or slower development of many peripheral/semi-peripheral countries, including India, Uganda, and Sierra Leone, etc. Globalization theory connects to the world systems theory as globalization is arguably the largest driver of the global inequity being explained by Wallerstein’s theory. Globalization has allowed the more developed world to outsource all kinds of low-skill, undesirable work, hiring cheap labour in developing countries to service the needs of wealthy nations. The increased ease of shipping, communication, and other accelerators of globalization have driven this outsourcing, helping to perpetuate the power imbalance described by Wallerstein’s theory. 5.
In your own words describe and explain what the figure below is illustrating INCLUDING the three lines. (
4 marks
)
The figure below is illustrating the demographic transition theory (DDT), which is a population growth theory that associates demographic changes with stages of economic development. This theory postulates that population change is driven by variations in crude birth/death rates, and that birth/death rates vary with levels of economic development. It also provides an outline for a country’s transition through the stages on the way to advanced economic development. The stages in this diagram are defined as:
Stage I: Pre-Modern – high birth/death rates. Likely a rural/agricultural society.
Stage II, Urbanizing and Industrializing – high birth rates, declining death rate. Growing urban populations and manufacturing industry
Stage III: Mature Industrial – declining birth rate, low death rate. Stabilizing urban population/growing employment in tertiary industries.
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Stage IV: Post-industrial – low birth/death rates. High rates of employment in tertiary industries, highly urban society, high levels of wellbeing, low levels of premature death.
The three lines represent the crude birth rate (red line), crude death rate (blue line), and the population increase rate (%) (brown line). PART C: MEDIUM/ LONG ANSWER
ANSWER ONE OF THE FOLLOWING
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6.
Gentrification has had a profound impact on the lives of many, specifically in the GTA. As investors develop condominiums near the bayfront in Hamilton, surrounding real estate increases in value, and so does rent. Thinking about the gentrification scenario of homeowners, renters, property developers, and others who may be involved, describe gentrification, and briefly explain who is winning, losing, or neutral in the gentrification scenario in the Hamilton waterfront. You can have the same parties in different categories if you can justify your choice. (5 Marks)
Gentrification is a problem that is not isolated to a particular region or specific city. Gentrification, or the transition of an area from lower to higher-income resulting from the influx of wealthier residents, is a problem that exists across the more developed world. Gentrification is
a polarizing issue, and one that has recently come to the Hamilton waterfront. The Hamilton waterfront is an area undergoing rapid change. Once a declining neighborhood in the GTA’s “steel town”, the Hamilton waterfront’s new development push is bringing higher-
income residents (and fancy coffee shops) to the area. This influx of people is pushing up property prices and rent in the area, an issue for the community’s original inhabitants, many of whom are lower income people who previously worked in the city’s manufacturing industry. Further, in many cases a “revitalization” of a city’s waterfront is the start of more widespread gentrification. Whether or not gentrification is harmful is a matter of opinion, but in either case it
is imperative to understand the impact of redevelopment in Hamilton’s waterfront neighborhood in the context of the greater city. There are many “key players” in the redevelopment Hamilton’s waterfront. Homeowners, renters, property developers, and incoming residents all have a stake in the area’s development. Also involved are policymakers, who include politicians/government officials and urban planners.
The losers in this situation are renters. People living in the area currently may be pushed out by rising rents (though rent control policies try keep this from happening). People hoping to move into the area will also be affected by rising rents, shutting out lower-income people who before may have been able to afford rent in the community. Page 7
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The winners in this situation are homeowners and property developers. Homeowners in the area will see the value of their properties increase, effectively increasing their assets and potentially even their socio-economic status. Owning property in an area that subsequently becomes more expensive can be life changing for homeowners who experience an appreciation on their real estate. Property developers also win in this situation. Their ultimate goal is to make money through constructing profitable developments. If an area they build in becomes more desirable (increasing prices in the housing market), their chances of making a profit/profit margin increases. The neutral party in all this are the policymakers. The Hamilton waterfront is currently in very early stages of development – the outcome of the area’s gentrification is yet to be determined. While gentrification can be politically unpopular (in extreme cases making politicians “losers”), as it stands policymakers are in a neutral/slightly positive situation. Policy makers ultimately hold the power in this situation, and it is imperative that they consider the outcomes of redevelopment on all stakeholders involved. OR
7.
In this course, we have introduced Charles Gritzner’s definition of human geography as a useful description of how human geographers approach understanding spatial problems. His definition comprises three closely related questions: “what is where, why there, why care?” (Gritzner, 2002). Please explain how we use this approach in lecture to better understand ONE ISSUE from the population and migration studies section of this course (5 Marks).
PART D: BONUS
In the space below, please type (using ALL CAPS) the following statement: “The responses to these questions are mine, and mine alone; I have not collaborated with any other student. Signed {YOUR NAME}” (
1 bonus mark
)
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THE RESPONSES TO THESE QUESTIONS ARE MINE, AND MINE ALONE; I HAVE NOT COLLABORATED WITH ANY OTHER STUDENT. SIGNER MADELINE SCHIZAS
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