Urban Geography and Spatial Demographics Zoltan Grossman Blood

Urban Geography and Spatial Demographics Zoltan Grossman, Blood & Borders, The Evergreen State College

USSR Population (Lost 15 mil to civil war/Stalin and 14 mil to WWII; Male shortage one reason for women in both workforce & home) Despite Annexations! Population would have been 440 million in 1991 without wars

“State Socialism” • Central planning of “Command Economy” • Guaranteed job, low rents, health care, daycare, etc. • Heavy industrialization to catch up to West • Forced collectivization of private farmlands

Soviet Bloc urban population • Soviets favored large industry over farms & cities – Moscow 30% industrial; Paris only 5% • Urbanization but without urban services/transit/life • Prefab worker apartment blocs / housing shortages

Russian urban population Overwhelmingly in largest cities

“Shock therapy” • Close command industries • Reduce or end subsidies • Pass burden to renters • Privatize industrial economy; benefit new entrepeneurs • High unemployment, inflation, inequality

Winning regions • Hub regions - Government/transportation centers. High-tech industries - Moscow, St. Petersburg, Kiev, Nizhny Novgorod, Urals • Gateway regions - Outward looking/ trade-oriented - Vladivostok, Murmansk, Kaliningrad

Losing regions Huge gaps in prices, income, roads • Command military-industrial / coal regions • State agricultural regions • Remote natural resource (non-oil) • Ethnic minority regions in conflict

Favorable regions of Russia

Unfavorable regions of Russia

Russia’s demographics, 1990 -2006 Male Female Effects of war, poor male health

Russian birth rate

Russian death rate

U. S. Baby Boom USSR instead had “echo busts” slowing growth in 1960 s, 1980 s Baby Boom (1946 -1964) Echo Boom Baby Bust (1965 -1980)

Russian life expectancy Men dying from alcohol, drugs, accidents, crime; Male life expectancy now like parts of Third World

Russia’s population decline Population decline for first time since WWII; Worries about aging population, labor shortages; Larger families in Muslim regions but not as many industrial workers

Feudal City Narrow, Twisty Medieval Streets Vienna, Austria

URBAN GEOGRAPHY: Trade City • Merchant capitalism emerges 1400 s-1500 s; Gradually replaces feudalism • Mediterranean Sea ports • Baltic/North Sea ports (Hanseatic League)

Industrial capitalist City (1800 on) Industrial Revolution: Steam engine Steel Loom

Other European city characteristics Plazas High density Low skyline Lively downtown Neighborhood stability Symbolism/memorials Good municipal services

Central Place Theory Explaining the relative size /function of urban centers as a function of economic behavior Range: Maximum distance buyer will travel Threshold: Minimum market size