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Possible FRQ TOPICS

Possible FRQ Topics

Brandt Line

  • The Brandt Line is the line that separates the core from the periphery on a global map.

  • It shows how the northern countries (in North America, Europe, Asia) are mostly core, and the southern countries (in South America, Sub-Saharan Africa, etc.) are mostly periphery.

  • People would want to move from the south to the north because people in LDCs want to migrate towards MDCs.

  • Therefore product transportation in the process of manufacturing generally goes from south to north because LDCs tend to manufacture for cheaper labor and then ship the product to MDCs for the market.

Core-Periphery

  • Also known as Wallerstein’s theory.

  • Does not really explain how countries jump from periphery to core without really passing through semi-periphery.

  • Periphery is LDCs, semi-periphery is also technically LDCs, and core is MDCs.

  • Differences in literacy rates, access to knowledge, a long and healthy life, healthcare systems, life expectancies, etc.

Education in MDCs and LDCs/Education Gap

  • Pupil-to-teacher ratio is the amount of students to the amount of teachers, which also impacts the quality of education when the teacher gives more attention to students.

  • The average number of years someone will go through education is 7 years.

Industrial Production in the U.S.

  • Right-to-work laws have lured manufacturers away.

  • Industry has shifted from the Northeast to the South and West.

  • "Right-to-work stage" -- a state where it is very hard to form a union, which means that it’s harder for workers to demand for things, so people put factories in right-to-work states, where there are no unions.

  • This is very different than the European Union--in the EU, they are creating subsidies to influence where the industry is taking place to prevent de-industrialization; on the other hand, the U.S. is simply letting it happen.

Manufacturing in LDCs vs. MDCs

  • Differences between high and low-skilled labor (low-skilled in LDCs, high-skilled in MDCs).

  • Transportation from LDCs to MDCs is cheaper than the cost of labor.

  • In order to avoid high labor costs, core countries will outsource from LDCs and spend more money on transportation rather than spending money on labor.

  • Many countries outsource from China and India because the labor there is about $1/hr.

  • MDCs don’t really have "manufacturing" (which would be secondary sector); instead, they have more tertiary sector while getting manufactured goods for selling from LDCs.

  • LDCs do have "manufacturing" (secondary sector) and usually export them to MDCs.

Rostow’s “Modernization Model”

  • The different stages are...

    1. Traditional Society: not yet started development, no country is in this stage, “nonproductive” activities.

    2. Preconditions for Takeoff: elite group initiates innovative economic activities, has opportunity to takeoff.

    3. Takeoff: rapid growth generated in limited number of economic activities, achieve relevance.

    4. Drive to Maturity: trickle down to other industries, modern technology diffuse to wide variety of industries.

    5. Age of Mass Consumption: economy shifts from production of heavy industry to consumer goods.

  • Favored over the self-sufficiency model.

Weber’s Least Cost Theory

  • Alfred Weber’s least cost theory model explains where industries would cluster.

  • His theory focuses on a factory owner’s desire to minimize three categories of cost: transportation, labor, and agglomeration.

  • Agglomeration: companies clustering together, therefore suppliers will also cluster there as well, so all parties benefit.

  • Bulk-reducing means the factory location is near the inputs (low).

  • Bulk-gaining means the factory location is near the markets (high).

Industrial Revolution

  • The Industrial Revolution refers to a period of major industrialization from the late 18th to the early 19th centuries, beginning in Great Britain and spreading to other parts of the world.

  • It marked a shift from agrarian economies to industrialized and urban ones, leading to changes in every aspect of daily life, including transportation, manufacturing, and labor.

  • Key innovations included the steam engine, power looms, and spinning jennies, which increased production capabilities and efficiency.

  • The revolution also encouraged the growth of factories, which became the centers of production and defined the industrial landscape.

  • Labor movements emerged as workers sought rights against poor working conditions in factories and long working hours.

  • Urbanization was a significant outcome, with large populations migrating to cities for work, causing both growth and overcrowding.

  • The Industrial Revolution had profound impacts on society, including economic growth but also social challenges such as child labor and environmental degradation.

SB

Possible FRQ TOPICS

Possible FRQ Topics

Brandt Line

  • The Brandt Line is the line that separates the core from the periphery on a global map.

  • It shows how the northern countries (in North America, Europe, Asia) are mostly core, and the southern countries (in South America, Sub-Saharan Africa, etc.) are mostly periphery.

  • People would want to move from the south to the north because people in LDCs want to migrate towards MDCs.

  • Therefore product transportation in the process of manufacturing generally goes from south to north because LDCs tend to manufacture for cheaper labor and then ship the product to MDCs for the market.

Core-Periphery

  • Also known as Wallerstein’s theory.

  • Does not really explain how countries jump from periphery to core without really passing through semi-periphery.

  • Periphery is LDCs, semi-periphery is also technically LDCs, and core is MDCs.

  • Differences in literacy rates, access to knowledge, a long and healthy life, healthcare systems, life expectancies, etc.

Education in MDCs and LDCs/Education Gap

  • Pupil-to-teacher ratio is the amount of students to the amount of teachers, which also impacts the quality of education when the teacher gives more attention to students.

  • The average number of years someone will go through education is 7 years.

Industrial Production in the U.S.

  • Right-to-work laws have lured manufacturers away.

  • Industry has shifted from the Northeast to the South and West.

  • "Right-to-work stage" -- a state where it is very hard to form a union, which means that it’s harder for workers to demand for things, so people put factories in right-to-work states, where there are no unions.

  • This is very different than the European Union--in the EU, they are creating subsidies to influence where the industry is taking place to prevent de-industrialization; on the other hand, the U.S. is simply letting it happen.

Manufacturing in LDCs vs. MDCs

  • Differences between high and low-skilled labor (low-skilled in LDCs, high-skilled in MDCs).

  • Transportation from LDCs to MDCs is cheaper than the cost of labor.

  • In order to avoid high labor costs, core countries will outsource from LDCs and spend more money on transportation rather than spending money on labor.

  • Many countries outsource from China and India because the labor there is about $1/hr.

  • MDCs don’t really have "manufacturing" (which would be secondary sector); instead, they have more tertiary sector while getting manufactured goods for selling from LDCs.

  • LDCs do have "manufacturing" (secondary sector) and usually export them to MDCs.

Rostow’s “Modernization Model”

  • The different stages are...

    1. Traditional Society: not yet started development, no country is in this stage, “nonproductive” activities.

    2. Preconditions for Takeoff: elite group initiates innovative economic activities, has opportunity to takeoff.

    3. Takeoff: rapid growth generated in limited number of economic activities, achieve relevance.

    4. Drive to Maturity: trickle down to other industries, modern technology diffuse to wide variety of industries.

    5. Age of Mass Consumption: economy shifts from production of heavy industry to consumer goods.

  • Favored over the self-sufficiency model.

Weber’s Least Cost Theory

  • Alfred Weber’s least cost theory model explains where industries would cluster.

  • His theory focuses on a factory owner’s desire to minimize three categories of cost: transportation, labor, and agglomeration.

  • Agglomeration: companies clustering together, therefore suppliers will also cluster there as well, so all parties benefit.

  • Bulk-reducing means the factory location is near the inputs (low).

  • Bulk-gaining means the factory location is near the markets (high).

Industrial Revolution

  • The Industrial Revolution refers to a period of major industrialization from the late 18th to the early 19th centuries, beginning in Great Britain and spreading to other parts of the world.

  • It marked a shift from agrarian economies to industrialized and urban ones, leading to changes in every aspect of daily life, including transportation, manufacturing, and labor.

  • Key innovations included the steam engine, power looms, and spinning jennies, which increased production capabilities and efficiency.

  • The revolution also encouraged the growth of factories, which became the centers of production and defined the industrial landscape.

  • Labor movements emerged as workers sought rights against poor working conditions in factories and long working hours.

  • Urbanization was a significant outcome, with large populations migrating to cities for work, causing both growth and overcrowding.

  • The Industrial Revolution had profound impacts on society, including economic growth but also social challenges such as child labor and environmental degradation.