AP® Human Geography: Special Economic Zones and Spatial Patterns

Flashcards covering key terms related to special economic zones and spatial patterns in the context of AP® Human Geography.

Special Economic Zones (SEZs)

Areas of a country with economic laws and policies that differ from the typical laws and policies to attract foreign investment.

Spatial Pattern

The arrangement of different phenomena across space; in this context, the distribution of clusters in China.

Clusters

Groups of similar firms or industries located in close proximity to each other, often benefiting from shared resources and reduced costs.

Export-oriented

Referring to businesses or zones that focus on producing goods primarily for export rather than local consumption.

Comparative Advantage

The ability of a region or country to produce goods at a lower opportunity cost than others, enhancing trade capacity.

Internal Migration

The movement of people within a country, often from rural areas to urban centers, impacting labor markets.

Wallerstein's World System Theory

A socioeconomic framework that divides the world into core, semiperiphery, and periphery countries based on their economic activities and relationships.

Agglomeration Effects

Benefits that firms experience by being close to each other, leading to economies of scale and reduced costs.

Economic Policy

Government actions that influence economic behavior, such as tax incentives or labor laws designed to attract foreign investment.

Infrastructure

The basic physical systems of a country or region, including transportation and utilities, that support economic activities.