Why do Business Services Locate in Large Settlements

Why do Business Services Locate in Large Settlements? 12. 3

Early Settlements Mesopotamia, Egypt, China, and the Indus River valley were locations of the earliest urban settlements

Ancient Ur Ur, in modern-day Iraq, was one of the earliest urban settlements. The ziggurat, or stepped temple, was surrounded by a dense network of residences.

Ancient Athens was one of the largest and most influential of all the Greek city-states. The hilltop site of the Acropolis, dating to about 500 B. C. , still dominates the skyline of modern Athens.

Ancient Roman Cities The ancient Romans built cities to help spread their culture and “Romanize” the native population. With the fall of the empire, many large settlements shrank or were abandoned

Medieval World Cities Medieval cities like Sienna, Italy served as centers for gov’t and trade. Buildings were usually arranged around a central market square. Other urban characteristics included narrow, winding streets and walls around the city.

World Cities London, New York, and Tokyo are the dominant world cities in the global economy. Other major and secondary world cities play lesser roles.

Business Service Cities Below the world cities in the hierarchy of U. S. cities are command control centers, specialized producer-service centers, and dependent centers.

Command Control Centers • Contain corporate hq • Contain well developed business services • Ex. Atlanta, Boston, Cincinatti

Specialized Producer-Service Centers • Narrow highly specialized service • Detroit (motor vehicles), Pittsburgh (steel), Rochester (office equipment), San Jose (semiconductors)

Dependent Centers • Provide for the other cities • 4 types – Resort/retirement – Manufacturing – Industrial/Military – Mining

Basic Industries A community’s unique collection of basic industries defines it’s economic base. A basic industry primarily exports products or services to consumers OUTSIDE the settlement. Attracting new basic industries is important to a community because it stimulates new nonbasic industries. But not vice versa!

Non - Basic Industries. Non-basic industries are enterprises whose customers live in the same community…essentially consumer services.

Specialization of Cities • Northern/Eastern cities have more aggressively restructured towards services

Where does talent move to? • $ not necessarily the biggest factor • Cultural diversity is maybe the key

Economic Base of U. S. Cities that have a high proportion of their labor force engaged in the specified economic activity shown.

Distribution of Talent Cities with high levels of talent (scientists, professionals, etc. ) are also often cities with high levels of diversity.

Distribution of Talent