Spatial Transformations in Contemporary World Globalization

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Felix Cunningham
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1 Spatial Transformations in Contemporary World Globalization Kathy Pain ALDAR Professor of Real Estate Development The University of Reading, UK June 2010 Henley Business School

Estate Development The University of Reading, UK

2 Fo cus Advanced producer (business) services (APS) are key articulators of contemporary spatial organization The specific drivers of centralization> < dispersion associat ed with APS network practices, are shaping reconstruction of the urban space economy and adding value to other production Today, I pick out two interactional spaces for consideration: (I) the global, and (II) the mega-city region It is important to bear in mind though that, in contemporary globalization, scales are not discrete or independent GaWC world city network analysis (WCN) informs understanding of the mutual constitution of scales that is required for effective territorial policy responses... 2

spaces for consideration: (I) the global, and (II) the mega-city region It is important to bear in mind though that, in contemporary globalization, scales are not

3 I. Global city network construction 2008 GaWC-CASS China, WCN research collaboration

4 GNC change Top LON NY HK TOKYO PARIS SINGAPORE CHICAGO MILAN MADRID LOS ANG SYDNEY FRANKFURT Top NY LON HK PARIS SINGAPORE TOKYO SYDNEY SHANGHAI MILAN BEIJING MADRID MOSCOW 64.85

SYDNEY 58.06 12.FRANKFURT 57.53 Top 12-2008 1. NY 100.00 2. LON 99.32 3. HK 83.41 4. PARIS 79.68 5. SINGAPORE 76.

5 Absolute change 132 cities 5

6 II. MCR network construction In spite of contrary predictions, agglomeration still matters social capital (located in cities) is transmuted to economic capital (of cities, regions, countries) (Pierre Bourdieu) Increasing transnational interactions are globalizing more cities (not just the top global cities ), but what about their regions? This question was addressed in Europe by Peter Hall and Kathy Pain (the Polynet study) in eight multi-nodal regions The results shed light on the global-local drivers, and the economic particularities, of city-region spatial transformations They illustrate the importance of city process distinctions (invisible when only morphology is considered) and the implications for balanced development, sustainability, policy 6

This question was addressed in Europe by Peter Hall and Kathy Pain (the 2003-06 Polynet study) in eight multi-nodal regions The results shed light on the global-local drivers, and the

7 MCR or global mega-city region? How globally constituted at a regional scale? 7

8 POLYNET eight NWE regions How polycentric? ESDP v Lisbon sustainability preoccupation

9 SE England MCR: 51 contiguous FURs Based on territorial (Census) dat a Biggest of 8 mega-city regions in population 19.0 million 39%English population on 22%area London FUR almost half: 9.0 million 50 other FURs: 32 West of the City of London only 18 East

0 million 39%English population on 22%area London FUR almost

10 Employment structure Includes ret ail (as w ell as business) services 80%in services overall: banking & finance 22%, public services 27%, distribution 22% 15% in manufacturing

11 The networked region Based on flow data Em er gi ng smaller multisector clust ers (nodes) serve sub-regional markets of global APSfirms (ot her MCRs less global + have sectoral specialisation between larger centres) SEEfunctional region has network construction with a western orientation (one main global node + uneven development in all MCRs): 1. Commuting 2. APS 3. traffic Cross-cutting mobility by car vital in all MCRs! 11

SEEfunctional region has network construction with a western orientation (one main global node + uneven

12 III. Lessons from Europe? SE England: A large, complex global mega-city region In terms of urban form, apparently monocentric but in fact highly polycentric, functionally, in the most global sectors of the world service economy But this is NOT reflected in ESDP policy Importance of city processes: Fi r m s confer either Jacobs type global functional complementarities, or regional sectoral specialisation, on MCRs State regulation policy, legislation and taxation can be obstacles to cross-border new work flows (ESDP v Lisbon) Public investment Europe is rolling back the state but support for city infrastructure is needed (transportation) Strategic planning Coordinated cross-border governance is needed BUT instead, UK new localism, demise of regions

service economy But this is NOT reflected in ESDP policy Importance of city processes: Fi r m s confer either Jacobs type global functional complementarities, or regional sectoral

13 Potentials of China? Analysis of the interconnectedness of global cities by GaWC emphasises China in the space of flows (Manuel Castells) Global city infrastructure is a physical manifestation of the nodes of the world city network (e.g. Shanghai) China is the only country in the world with three Top Ten global nodes (huge capacity for innovation, ecological modn.) As in Europe, quantitative and qualitative research needs to monitor the processes by which global flow and material spaces are intersecting at sub-national, city and city-region scales Policy researchers will then acquire the necessary evidence base to inform the transformation of potentially contradictory territorial governance systems for sustainable development

nodes of the world city network (e.g. Shanghai) China is the only country in the world with three Top Ten global nodes (huge capacity for innovation, ecological modn.

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Polycentric Mega-city Regions: Exploratory Research from Western Europe

Polycentric Mega-city Regions: Exploratory Research from Western Europe Polycentric Megacity Regions: Exploratory Research from Western Europe Peter J. Taylor and Kathy Pain Loughborough University, UK Introduction Western Europe is the most urbanised world region in the modern