Case study theme 3

Question 1

For a named transnational corporation you have studied, describe its characteristics and global links

Answer 1

Named transnational corporation: Nike
- Global headquarters is located in Beaverton, Oregon, West coast of USA; lots of jobs here are in R&D => take advantage of very skilled workforce
- Has lots of manufacturing in SE Asia, with over 300000 contracted factory workers in Vietnam => low labour costs & good transport through ports
- Nike spends billions on advertising and sponsorship e.g partnerships with international athletes and sport teams; => recognised worldwide & influences consumer trends globally

Question 2

TNC impacts on LEDC located in
(2 positives and 1 negative)

Answer 2

TNC: Nike & LEDC: Vietnam
- Creates job opportunities, Nike’s contracted factories in Dong Nai and Binh Duong (southeast of Vietnam) employ over 300000 workers
- Brings foreign investment into VN, pay taxes & create more jobs => more taxes to improve education, electricity supply, roads => improve infrastructure & economic growth
- Exploitation of labour, workers may face long hours, strict supervision with low pay relative to profits made by company and the effort put in => low QOL & income inequality

Question 3

Impacts of Globalisation on a young
person in a LEDC (1 advantage and 2 disadvantages)

Answer 3

LEDC: Vietnam
- Improved access to global products, technology and opportunities => learn new skills, communicate internationally & improve education (online courses) in Ho Chi Minh & Hanoi (S and N)
- Increasing social and cultural pressure, exposure to global advertising & social media => young people pressured to buy expensive foreign brands
- Exploited in factories , young people early twenties forced to work excessive overtime (beyond legal limits), =>difficult to balance work with education => limits future career

Question 4

Explain why globalisation has occured, you should referred to named examples

Answer 4

• Transport becomes faster, cheaper & more efficient e.g introduction of container ships reduced shipping costs enabling companies e.g Samsung in SK to export electronics worldwide at low costs
• Rapid improvement in communication tech => internet & smartphone services e.g Zoom, WhatsApp => Google manages offices in USA, India & Singapore in real time through digital communication
• Growth of TNCs e.g Nike set up large scale production in VN to benefit from low labour costs; many contract factories in Dong Nai & Binh Duong (Southeast region of VN)

Question 5

For a named country or area you have studied, describe the impacts of an economic activity on the natural environment

Answer 5

Named country: Vietnam
Economic activity: Rice farming in the Mekong Delta
- Intensive rice farming in Mekong Delta, especially provinces like An Giang & Can Tho (southwest of VN) causes significant water pollution; farmers use fertilisers & pesticides (eutrophication)
- Soil degradation as farmers grow rice 2-3 times/year; planting frequently removes nutrients from soil => less fertile; farmers then add fertilisers &chemicals damage the soil structure
- Expansion of rice farming => destruction of natural wetlands & mangrove forests => removing habitats for wildlife e.g sarus crane & vulnerable against coastal erosion & storm

Question 6

For a named transnational corporation (TNC) you have studied, describe the advantages and disadvantages it brings for people at a local scale (2 advantages, 1 disadvantage)

Answer 6

TNC: Nike
- Nike provides jobs for local people in Dong Nai (southeast region of VN), especially young workers => income for families, better SOL & lower rural-urban migration pressure
- Training and skills development; local workers in Nike’s factories received training => skills can be used in other manufacturing jobs
- Workers face limited job security, as factories are run by subcontractors, not by Nike => employers can reduce hours/end contracts easily when global demand for shoes fall => uncertainty

Question 7

For a named transnational corporation (TNC) you have studied, describe the advantages and disadvantages it brings for people at a national scale (1 advantage, 2 disadvantages)

Answer 7

TNC: Nike
- Nike contributes to VN’s economic development; VN is Nike’s largest manufacturing hub, producing over 50% of Nike’s footwear worldwide => boosts the country’s exports revenue & attracts billions of dollars of FDI
- Economically dependent on foreign corporation; If Nike shifts production => jobs could be lost & national export revenue fall (long-term economic vulnerability for VN)
- Environmental pressure across VN; factory clusters in HCM city and Dong Nai (SE of VN) consume large amounts of water, energy & chemicals => air pollution & wastewater discharge

Question 8

For a named country or region you have studied, explain the causes of food shortages.

Answer 8

Named country: Yemen
- Ongoing civil war around Sana’a, north-west of Yemen => damaged agricultural land => disrupt farming & damage transport infrastructure
- Water scarcity & drought (hot, dry climate) => low rainfall reduces irrigation => reduce crop yields
- Poverty & economic decline, people lost jobs because business collapse due to conflict => households can’t afford for food on market

Question 9

For a named country or region you have studied, describe the effects of food shortages on the people who live there.

Answer 9

Named country: Yemen
- Malnutrition due to insufficient nutrients in diets => widespread undernourishment e.g Sana’a, north west of Yemen => weakened immune system & diseases
- Rising food prices as more demand vs supply => daily meals are too expensive => household can’t afford & rely on food aid
- Population displacement, people move to regions of better food supply => overcrowding pressure e.g sanitation, housing,..

Question 10

For an example you have studied, describe and explain the land use of a farm or agricultural area. (how natural factors influenced the land use)

Answer 10

Named area: Bac Ninh rice farm in Vietnam
- Precipitation: high levels of annual rainfall, over 300mm/month in growing season (July & August) => high yield & 2 harvests per year
- Sunshine: 12-13 hours sunshine/day & high temp in growing season (over 30°C) => crops photosynthesize & grow rapidly & 2 harvest per year
- Fertile alluvial soil, deposit nutrients into soil from river flood => high yields & grow intensively
- Steep land, people create terraces & have ridges => hold water & soil in place => waterlogged field for rice

Question 11

For a farm or agricultural system which you have studied, describe the inputs, processes and outputs. You may draw a systems diagram.
(describe the farming system)

Answer 11

Named farm: Bac Ninh rice farm in Vietnam
1. Inputs:
- Very high rainfall, over 300mm/month in July & August (growing season)
- High levels of sunshine& temperature (12-13 sunshine hours daily, 30°C in growing season)
- Build terraces & ridges on sloping land => waterlogged paddy fields for rice
2. Processes:
- Contour ploughing & levelling of land => water spread evenly across field
- Sowing by hand
- Irrigating => keep fields waterlogged for rice seeds to grow
- Fertilising after harvest & weeding => protect crops from diseases
- Harvesting of rice with sickles/small machines
3. Outputs:
- Rice for local use & sales
- Rice straw => for animal feed
- Rice husks => fuel for biomass power plants

Question 12

For an example you have studied, describe and explain the location of a factory or zone of manufacturing industry

Answer 12

Chosen factory: Hai Thang Fish Sauce factory
- Proximity to raw materials, close to East sea => access to anchovies (main raw material) => reduce transport costs
- Power, main source is energy from sun (have 12-13 hours of sunlight in PT) => ferment anchovies for fish sauce
- Accessibility, next to Nguyen Thong main road => workers access easily, reduce transport costs & people pass by to buy products
- Market, with new Phan Thiet Dau Giay highway from HCM to PT (3 hours) => export to market in HCMC (10 million people)

Question 13

For a named tourist area or country you have studied, explain how tourism is managed to reduce the problems it causes for people and the natural environment

Answer 13

Named tourist area: Triem Tay village in Hoi An
- Community-based tourism, local residents manage homestay & tourism activities => improve local living standards & preserve traditional lifestyles
- Eco-friendly tourism activities, visitors encouraged to use bicycles & walking tour along Thu Bon river, west of Hoi An => reduce air pollution
- Operates in a small scale compared to nearby Hoi An ancient town => prevent overcrowding, protect farmland & sanitation

Question 14

For a named tourist area you have studied, describe the problems tourism causes for people and the natural environment (1 for people & 3 for environment)

Answer 14

Named tourist area: Phan Thiet in Vietnam
- Increase costs of living & land prices; growth of resorts in Mui Ne, northeast of Phan Thiet increase demand for land => difficult for local fishing families to afford
- Coastal erosion; tourists facilities remove vegetation protect the coastline => loss of beach habitat & nesting areas for wildlife
- Pollution & waste; many tourists produce plastic & sewage => can enter sea if waste management systems are overwhelmed
- Damage to natural landscape; activities e.g quad biking & off-road vehicles destroy plant cover on sand dune => increased sand movement, habitat loss

Question 14

For a named example of a tourist area you have studied, describe the benefits of tourism for local people.

Answer 14

Named tourist area: Phan Thiet in Vietnam
- Job opportunities due to growth of hotels & restaurants in Mui Ne, northeast of PT => higher income than fishing/agriculture
- Improved infrastructure; roads, electricity & water system upgraded for tourism development => benefit locals
- Skills development, learn foreign languages, hospitality & management skills => improve long-term employment prospect

Question 15

For a named area you have studied where tourism is important, describe the attractions of the physical and human landscape.

Answer 15

Named area: Phan Thiet in Vietnam
- Long sandy beaches e.g around Mui Ne, northeast of PT; for swimming, relaxation, water activities e.g surfing, snorkelling
- Warm tropical climate, high temp throughout year & less rainfall => many sunny days => reliable holiday destination
- Fish sauce production heritage, lots of factories in PT with large wooden barrels & traditional techniques => tourists can learn about fermentation process

Question 16

For a country you have studied, describe the methods used to supply water

Answer 16

Country: Vietnam
- Dams & reservoir e.g Dong Nai dam 1 & 2, southeast of VN, store water in rainy season & release in drier periods => domestic & industrial use, reduce seasonal shortages
- Wells & boreholes, drill into underground aquifers for groundwater => reliable supply when surface water is polluted
- Desalination using Reverse Osmosis, in coastal areas with lots of seawater => produce freshwater for tourists & residents

Question 17

For a named country you have studied, explain how water supply is being managed to meet present and future demand

Answer 17

Named country: Vietnam
- Dams & reservoirs e.g Dong Nai dam 1 & 2, southeast of VN, store water in rainy season & release in drier periods => domestic & industrial use, reduce seasonal shortages
- Improve water treatment & distribution, invest in modern treatment plant & upgrade pipe network => reduce leakage & water loss => existing supplies last longer
- Water demand management, many hotels encourage tourists reuse towel, take short shower & public awareness campaign => reduce overall consumption

Question 18

For a named country or area you have studied, describe the methods used to supply energy.

Answer 18

Named country: Vietnam
- Fossil fuels e.g coal-fired power stations in Quang Ninh, northeast of VN, coal reserves generate electricity; offshore natural gas field => reliable base load of electricity
- HEP, VN’s mountainous relief & large rivers => suitable for dam construction=> generate large amount of electricity as falling water turn turbines
- Biomass, widely use in rural areas, agricultural waste e.g rice husks, wood, animal manure are burned/processed in biogas digester => cooking fuel & small-scale electricity

Question 19

For a named country you have studied, describe and explain the importance of renewable energy supplies

Answer 19

Named country: Vietnam
- Improve energy security e.g HCM city, south of VN, high demand for electricity (10 mil people) => reduce dependence on imported fuels, instead stable & reliable supply of renewable energy
- Supports economic development, hydroelectricity dams generate large amount of electricity => support industries & create jobs
- Reduce environmental damage & climate change due to reduce CO2 emission => protects low-lying coast from rising sea level (global warming)

Question 20

Describe the impacts of global warming. You should refer to different named places

Answer 20

• Sea-level rising due to melting ice sheets & thermal expansion of warmer water e.g in southern coastal region of Bangladesh => flooding & saltwater intrusion into farmland
• Intense heatwaves & droughts e.g southeast regions of Australia (Victoria) => bushfire risk, damage farmland, reduce water supplies
• Damage to ecosystem e.g Great Barrier Reef, northeast coast of Australia, rising sea temp => coral bleaching => harms marine life & reduce locals’ income

Question 21

Describe the effects of desertification on people and the natural environment. You should refer to places where desertification is occurring

Answer 21

• Reduce agricultural productivity e.g in Sahel, southern edge of Sahara, low rainfall & overgrazing => soil loss nutrients => lower yield => food shortages & low income
• Water shortages, degraded land => rivers dry up quickly => travel long distance for water in Sahel => less time for education, work & conflict
• Loss of vegetation, death of grass, shrub, trees e.g Gobi desert, northern China => wildlife lose food & habitat => decline in biodiversity

Question 22

Explain how economic activities can increase global warming.

Answer 22

• Use of fossil fuels for electricity in factories & power stations => lots of CO2 emission => more greenhouse gases => rising global temp
• Increased transport activities; economic growth => more cars, trucks, ships, aeroplanes burn fuel => CO2 & nitrogen oxides => more greenhouse gases
• Deforestation for economic development e.g central & northern Borneo (Kalimantan, Sarawak) => fewer CO2 absorption & burning releases CO2