Research Paper on "Human Geography Vancouver, British Columbia, Host"

Quoted Instructions for "Human Geography Vancouver, British Columbia, Host" Assignment:

Geography 171: Spring 2010, Written Assignment #4*****Agglomeration Economies at Home*****

In discussion section, lecture and the text, we*****ve learned that when considered from a spatial perspective, economic development is*****in part*****a story of *****agglomeration.***** This is just another word for *****clustering.***** In order to decrease the cost of transporting resources and goods; ensure that a workforce and consumer market is available; and increase possible production synergies with suppliers, distributors, potential partners, and even competitors; some firms will decide to locate near each other. If these firms operate within the same (or related) industr(ies) and if these firms begin to dominate the local economy, then the result might be local/regional specialization. Moreover, their activities will generate multiplier effects and positive externalities*****such as the need for more infrastructure, population growth, and greater economic opportunity (for some.) These positive externalities are referred to as *****agglomeration economies.***** If, however, growth is too rapid and outpaces the pace of infrastructural development, if only a few classes of people benefit from all of this activity, and if the economy gets so focused on doing a certain set of things in a certain way, and finds it difficult to diversify or even change, then negative externalities can come into play*****these are the *****agglomeration diseconomies***** that often become such a hallmark feature of deindustrialization and that fuel *****creative destruction.*****

For this assignment, your job is to:

A) If you chose option #1 (writing both Assignments #3 and #4), write a five-page, double-spaced, 12 pt. font, 1-inch margins all around, essay. This will be worth 5% of the course grade.

B) If you chose option #3 (writing only Assignment #4), write a seven-page, double-spaced, 12 pt. font, 1-inch margins all around, essay. This will be worth %10 of the course grade.

In both cases, your essay should address the issue of agglomeration in a specialized manufacturing region or office district with which you are familiar*****our suggestion is that you use your hometown (or, the place that you have lived the longest and toward which you feel the strongest affinity.) Here*****s the breakdown of tasks:

1. Describe the different kinds of firms that are found in this place. Again, yellowpages.com may be of use, but your best bet is first to go on the local official governmental website and see how the government is advertising the community. Look for links that refer to *****economic development***** and related topics (e.g. *****job opportunities.*****) Also try to find the local chamber of commerce*****s website and see what they have to say. A general Google search using the name of your place and the word *****economy***** should also return some (if not a lot!) of webpages for you to peruse. Is there one thing that seems to dominate the economy in this place? Or is it more diversified? If it seems diversified, is there still a set of firms that seem to be leading the local economy? Why are they located in this particular spot?

2. What evidence can you provide that these firms are creating (or created at one time) agglomeration economies? In other words, if they are mapped, is there a clustering pattern (you may have to work at multiple spatial scales to actually see this)? And, is there evidence that these firms are somehow functionally linked to one another? What are the advantages that come from them being close together?

3. Is there any evidence of agglomeration diseconomies? (I*****ve highlighted this because in the past, students have forgotten to write about this. The point here: to identify the DOWNSIDES to agglomerations, to talk about the PROBLEMS that agglomeration can cause.) Why do you think these negative externalities exist? If there aren*****t any diseconomies now, think ahead to the future*****what might happen that could cause this region to begin to unravel economically? Similarly, do you see any evidence of creative destruction taking place now or in the past? Why did this process occur?

As always, please construct your essay in the FORM OF AN ESSAY; that means, making sure that you have an argument that holds the thing together. Introduction, Agenda, Text Body that answers the above questions (description of local economy AND an explanation of it), and Conclusion. Again, bibliography and citations are required and DO NOT COUNT toward the five page limit. Nor do maps and graphics (which are really expected for this assignment*****it*****s completely up to you, however, as to what and how you use them!) It should also be well written and creative!