- Urban Economies.
Examine and analyze the economic base of your megacity Beijing.
- Present key economic data on your megacity in a concise table (not counted as part of the 300 word limit). This can include (but is not limited to) the following information:
- The size of the urban economy (GDP/GNI)
- Annual economic growth rates.
- Main economic sectors and industries.
- Economic projections for the near future.
- Based on your analysis of the data you collected, address at least twoof the following points:
- Which industries are growing – and why? Which industries appear to be declining – and why?
- Are there especially innovative industries, clusters or businesses in your city? What explains their success?
- What are the overall economic prospects for your megacity in the next 10-20 years?
- Urban Societies: Socio-spatial Mappings (refers to Unit 5)
Examine and analyze the social makeup of your megacity Beijing.
- Present a breakdown of your megacity’s population in a concise table (not counted as part of the 300 word limit). The table should show:
- The main population groups and social divisions in the city: by religion, race, ethnicity, linguistic group, migration status, etc.
- The size and growth rates of main population groups
- The relative social-economic standing of main groups: e.g. by income, education, employment, etc.
- Based on your analysis of the data you collected, answer at least twoof the following questions:
- In general, is the city characterized by low, moderate, or high levels of social strife and conflict between these groups?
- How are these groups arranged spatially in the city? Are there segregated areas for different groups, or are they generally mixed up?
- Are there areas that are ‘ghettos’, according to Wacquant’s definition? Explain.
- Are there major gated communities? When and why did they emerge?
