Case studies: iron & steel industry; IT industry relocation: Practice Questions

Between the 1950s and 1970s, the manufacturing industry in Hong Kong was primarily located within the urban areas. By the 1980s, a large-scale relocation occurred. To which region did most of these industries move?

Which of the following describes the most significant change in the locational orientation of the global iron and steel industry from the 19th century to the late 20th century?

A major US-based IT corporation decides to locate its Research and Development (R&D) headquarters in Silicon Valley while outsourcing its technical call center to Bangalore, India. What is the primary reason for this spatial division of labor?

In the context of the US IT industry, which factor is most crucial for the location of headquarters and research and development (R&D) centres compared to manufacturing plants?

The evolution of global trade and advancements in maritime shipping, particularly the development of large bulk carriers, have significantly influenced the location of new integrated iron and steel plants. This primarily allowed the industry to become less constrained by direct access to which traditional location factor?

What primary factor attracts the headquarters and research and development (R&D) divisions of the Information Technology (IT) industry to cluster in specific urban areas?

How do Special Economic Zones (SEZs) in developing countries act as a 'pull factor' for the relocation of IT manufacturing from developed nations?

In many developed nations, how have stringent environmental protection laws acted as a 'push factor' for the relocation of traditional iron and steel manufacturing to developing regions?

The Information Technology (IT) industry demonstrates a high degree of spatial flexibility compared to traditional industries.
(a) Contrast the locational requirements of the Research and Development (R&D) stage versus the assembly and manufacturing stage within the IT industry. (3 points)
(b) Explain why the R&D stage tends to remain concentrated in developed regions while assembly processes often relocate to developing countries. (2 points)

In China, the iron and steel industry has experienced a significant spatial migration from the interior provinces to coastal regions.
(a) With reference to a map of China's industrial distribution, account for the locational advantages of coastal sites over interior sites for modern steel production in terms of iron ore import and steel export. (4 points)
(b) Discuss the role of government policy in either encouraging this coastal shift or maintaining older industrial bases in the interior to prevent the formation of "rust belts". (3 points)