Edexcel GCSE Geography: Globalisation and Migration

Key Takeaways for Edexcel International GCSE Geography: Globalisation and Migration

1. Globalisation and the Global Economy

• Definition: Globalisation is the process creating a more interconnected world through increased trade, migration, and tourism.
• Production Chain Example: Jeans production involves multiple countries (e.g., cotton from Egypt, buttons from India, assembly in Bangladesh). Each stage adds value but is sourced where costs are lowest.
• Five Key Factors:
  • Labour (migration/TNCs seeking cheap labour).
  • Information (global communication networks).
  • Trade (exchange of goods/services).
  • Aid (financial assistance between countries).
  • Foreign investment (TNCs funding overseas operations).

Exam Tip: Use specific examples like the jeans production chain to explain how globalisation operates.

2. Global Shift in Manufacturing

• Why HICs → MICs/LICs?
  1. Cheap, non-unionised labour.
  2. Affordable land for factories.
  3. Weak environmental laws.
  4. Proximity to raw materials.
• Container Revolution: Standardised shipping containers reduce transport costs, boosting global trade efficiency.
• Case Studies – China & India:
  • Advantages: Cheap labour, lax regulations, tax incentives.
  • Consequences: Rapid industrialisation, economic growth (China: 2nd largest economy; India: 10th).

Exam Tip: Compare China/India’s roles pre- and post-global shift to highlight changes.

3. Transnational Corporations (TNCs)

• Definition: Companies operating in multiple countries (e.g., Walmart, Nike).
• Benefits to Host Countries:
  • Job creation, infrastructure development, technology transfer.
  • Exports boost foreign currency reserves.
• Costs to Host Countries:
  • Low wages, environmental damage, profit leakage to HICs.
• Walmart Case Study:
  • Headquarters in the USA; sources cheap goods globally.
  • Strategy: Low prices via manufacturing in LICs.

Exam Tip: Use Walmart to discuss how TNCs drive globalisation and impact economies.

4. Growth of Mass Tourism

• Causes (PEST Analysis):
  • Political: Relaxed border controls.
  • Economic: Rising disposable income.
  • Social: Increased leisure time.
  • Technological: Cheaper/faster transport.
• Impacts:
  • Economic: Jobs vs. seasonal/low pay.
  • Environmental: Pollution vs. conservation funding.
  • Social-Cultural: Cultural erosion vs. heritage preservation.

Exam Tip: Use the Maldives (mass tourism) vs. Bhutan (ecotourism) for compare/contrast questions.

5. Sustainable Tourism & Ecotourism

• Ecotourism Definition: Tourism conserving ecosystems and benefiting locals (e.g., Bhutan).
• Bhutan Case Study:
  • Strategies: High daily fees ($200+), low visitor numbers, homestays.
  • Aims: Preserve culture/environment, direct income to locals.

Exam Tip: Highlight Bhutan’s “high value, low volume” model as sustainable.

6. Migration and Population Change

• Key Terms:
  • Net Migration:Net Migration Rate=(Immigrants−EmigrantsTotal Population)×1000Net Migration Rate=(Total PopulationImmigrants−Emigrants​)×1000
  • Push Factors: Unemployment, war, poverty.
  • Pull Factors: Jobs, safety, better living standards.
• EU Enlargement Example:
  • 2004 expansion allowed workers from Eastern Europe to migrate west.
  • Spain/Germany/UK became top destinations.

Exam Tip: Link push-pull factors to specific migration flows (e.g., Syria → Europe due to war).

7. Managing Migration

• Advantages of Migrants:
  • Counteract aging populations.
  • Remittances boost origin countries’ economies.
• Challenges:
  • Social tensions (e.g., housing/job competition).
  • Illegal migration risks (e.g., human trafficking).
• Refugees vs. Asylum Seekers:
  • Refugees: Flee war/persecution.
  • Asylum Seekers: Apply for residency post-migration.

Exam Tip: Discuss ethical dilemmas (e.g., balancing border control with human rights).

Key Equations & Formulas

1. Population Change:Population Change=(Births−Deaths)+(Immigrants−Emigrants)Population Change=(Births−Deaths)+(Immigrants−Emigrants)
2. Net Migration Rate:Net Migration Rate=(Immigrants−EmigrantsTotal Population)×1000Net Migration Rate=(Total PopulationImmigrants−Emigrants​)×1000

Top Revision Tips

• Case Studies: Memorise 1–2 detailed examples (e.g., Walmart, Bhutan, EU migration).
• Diagrams: Sketch production chains/push-pull models for visual recall.
• 4/6-Mark Questions: Structure answers with PEEL (Point, Evidence, Explain, Link).
• Key Terms: Flashcards for definitions (globalisation, TNC, ecotourism).

Common Pitfalls:

• Confusing “refugee” and “asylum seeker” – refugees have fled; asylum seekers are awaiting status.
• Overlooking both positive/negative impacts (e.g., TNCs bring jobs but exploit labour).

50 Unique GCSE Geography Questions on Globalisation and Migration

Section A: Globalisation and the Global Economy

1. Define globalisation.
2. Explain the production chain of a pair of jeans using Figure 8.1.
3. List the five factors contributing to the rise of the global economy (Figure 8.2).
4. How has the “container revolution” standardised global trade?
5. Why do TNCs source production stages in different countries?

Section B: Global Shift in Manufacturing

6. Why has manufacturing shifted from HICs to MICs/LICs?
7. What four advantages do developing countries offer TNCs?
8. Explain how China and India became “winners” of the global manufacturing shift.
9. Why are environmental regulations in LICs attractive to TNCs?
10. Describe the role of tax-free zones in industrial growth.

Section C: Transnational Corporations (TNCs)

11. What does TNC stand for?
12. Outline three benefits of TNCs to host countries.
13. Outline three costs of TNCs to host countries.
14. How does Walmart’s strategy exemplify TNC operations?
15. Why do most TNC profits return to their home countries?

Section D: Mass Tourism

16. Define mass tourism.
17. Identify five causes of the “tourism explosion” (Figure 8.5).
18. Compare the economic benefits and drawbacks of mass tourism.
19. How does air travel contribute to environmental degradation?
20. Explain how mass tourism can erode local languages.

Section E: Sustainable Tourism & Ecotourism

21. Define ecotourism.
22. Describe Bhutan’s strategy for sustainable tourism.
23. Why does Bhutan charge tourists a daily surcharge?
24. How does ecotourism differ from mass tourism?
25. What role do homestays play in Bhutan’s tourism model?

Section F: Migration and Population Change

26. Define net migration.
27. Calculate net migration rate for a country with 50,000 immigrants and 30,000 emigrants (population: 10 million).
28. Differentiate between voluntary and forced migration.
29. Explain the push-pull mechanism using examples from Figure 8.10.
30. How did EU enlargement in 2004 affect migration patterns?

Section G: Managing Migration

31. What are two advantages of migration for host countries?
32. What are two disadvantages of illegal immigration?
33. Differentiate between refugees and asylum seekers.
34. How can governments balance border control with human rights?
35. Why might host populations oppose migrants?

Section H: Case Study Questions

36. Case Study: Explain China’s transformation into the world’s second-largest economy.
37. Case Study: How does Walmart’s global sourcing strategy keep prices low?
38. Case Study: Analyse the impact of EU enlargement on Spain’s migrant population.
39. Case Study: Evaluate Bhutan’s “high value, low volume” tourism approach.
40. Case Study: Describe the environmental costs of jeans production in Bangladesh.

Section I: Data Interpretation

41. Using Figure 8.6, which region saw the highest projected tourist arrivals by 2020?
42. Interpret the term “multiplier effect” in the context of TNCs.
43. Calculate population change if births = 1,000, deaths = 800, immigrants = 500, emigrants = 300.
44. Using Figure 8.12, describe trends in European tourist arrivals from 1950–2020.
45. How does the formula for net migration rate reflect a country’s migration balance?

Section J: Ethical and Evaluative Questions

46. Evaluate the ethical implications of TNCs exploiting cheap labour in LICs.
47. Assess whether ecotourism can replace mass tourism globally.
48. Debate: “Globalisation benefits HICs more than LICs.”
49. Why might tax incentives for TNCs be controversial?
50. Discuss the statement: “Migration is essential for addressing aging populations in HICs.”

Detailed Answers

Section A

1. Globalisation: The process creating a more interconnected world through increased trade, migration, and cultural exchange.
2. Jeans Production Chain: Cotton (Egypt) → Cloth (Thailand) → Synthetic fibre (China) → Buttons/Zips (India) → Assembly (Bangladesh) → Shipping (Netherlands) → Retail (UK). Each stage adds value.
3. Five Factors: Labour, information, trade, aid, foreign investment.
4. Container Revolution: Standardised containers reduce shipping costs and increase port efficiency.
5. TNC Sourcing: To minimise costs by exploiting cheap labour, tax breaks, and weak regulations.

Section B

6. Shift Reasons: Cheap labour, affordable land, weak environmental laws, proximity to raw materials.
7. LIC Advantages: Cheap labour, lax regulations, tax incentives, non-unionised workforce.
8. China/India: Transitioned from agrarian economies to manufacturing hubs via TNC investments.
9. Environmental Attraction: Lower compliance costs for pollution control.
10. Tax-Free Zones: Reduce operational costs, attracting foreign investment.

Section C

11. TNC: Transnational Corporation.
12. Benefits: Jobs, infrastructure, technology transfer.
13. Costs: Low wages, environmental damage, profit leakage.
14. Walmart Strategy: Global sourcing from LICs to sell cheap products.
15. Profit Leakage: Profits repatriated to TNC headquarters in HICs.

Section D

16. Mass Tourism: Large-scale, popular tourism (e.g., Mediterranean resorts).
17. Causes: Economic (disposable income), social (leisure time), transport (cheap flights), political (open borders), communication (media).
18. Economic Impacts:

• Pros: Job creation, infrastructure.
• Cons: Seasonal jobs, revenue leakage to multinationals.

19. Air Travel Impact: High CO22​ emissions (e.g., flights contribute 2.5% of global emissions).
20. Language Erosion: Locals adopt global languages (e.g., English) to cater to tourists.

Section E

21. Ecotourism: Tourism conserving ecosystems and benefiting locals (e.g., Bhutan).
22. Bhutan Strategy: Limits tourists, charges $$$200+/day$$, promotes homestays.
23. Surcharge Purpose: Funds conservation and cultural preservation.
24. Ecotourism vs. Mass: Focus on sustainability vs. profit-driven large-scale tourism.
25. Homestays: Direct income to locals, preserve traditions.

Section F

26. Net Migration: Difference between immigrants and emigrants.
27. Calculation:

Net Migration Rate=(50,000−30,00010,000,000)×1000=2 per thousand.Net Migration Rate=(10,000,00050,000−30,000​)×1000=2 per thousand.

28. Voluntary vs. Forced: Choice (jobs) vs. compulsion (war).
29. Push-Pull Examples:

• Push: Unemployment in Syria.
• Pull: Job opportunities in Germany.

30. EU Enlargement: Eastern European workers migrated west (e.g., Poles to the UK).

Section G

31. Advantages: Labour for aging populations, remittances.
32. Disadvantages: Crime, human trafficking.
33. Refugee vs. Asylum Seeker: Refugees flee persecution; asylum seekers apply post-arrival.
34. Balancing Act: Legal pathways + border security.
35. Opposition: Perceived competition for jobs/housing.

Section H

36. China: Industrialised via TNC investments, lax labour laws, and exports.
37. Walmart: Sources products from LICs (e.g., Bangladesh) to cut costs.
38. Spain: Post-2004, saw influx of Romanian and Moroccan migrants.
39. Bhutan: Limits environmental damage by capping tourist numbers.
40. Bangladesh: Pollution from dyeing factories, low wages for workers.

Section I

41. Figure 8.6: Europe leads in arrivals; East Asia grows fastest.
42. Multiplier Effect: TNCs stimulate local businesses (e.g., suppliers near factories).
43. Population Change:

(1,000−800)+(500−300)=400.(1,000−800)+(500−300)=400.

44. Tourist Trends: Europe’s share declined as Asia-Pacific regions grew.
45. Formula: Reflects whether a country gains/loses population via migration.

Section J

46. Ethical Implications: Exploitation vs. job creation – need for fair wages.
47. Ecotourism Feasibility: Limited scalability due to high costs.
48. Debate: HICs control TNC profits; LICs bear environmental costs.
49. Tax Incentives Controversy: May deprive LICs of revenue.
50. Migration Necessity: Migrants fill labour gaps in aging HICs (e.g., Germany).