Final Reflection EGT

A.   One of the most valuable lessons I learned in this class was how to think about interpreting different aspects of life. By using the DIE model (Describe, Interpret, Evaluate) I think that this will help me understand and realize certain things more thoroughly than I would have been able to previously. Had I gone to Spain before knowing this, I would have undoubtedly fallen into many assumptions that may not have been true. Thankfully, now I can discern what is actual description and what is just me drawing conclusions.
B.   I definitely want to take a look at the urban planning aspect of cities, and, because of my interest in economics and math (and numbers in general), the economic aspect of countries. First though, I want to be able to further understand how cities are laid out. By doing so, I can learn more about places I travel to, and might be able to observe any connections. The economic aspect is obviously important to me, especially coming from a Greek background, and that I will be in Spain. Both countries have had economic turmoil and any knowledge about that will help.
C.   I will be in Spain, and I think adjusting to living in a new environment will be difficult, but I have specific reasons. First, I love big cities and have always wanted to live in one, but I will be without my family and on my own (of course I'll have a host and other resources, but the fact remains). Living on another continent in one of the largest cities in the world will definitely be a challenge for me, but I'm excited for it.

City Analysis-Madrid

1. In terms of the hierarchy of Central Places, Madrid would definitely fall under the category of either a major regional city (like a Chicago for us here in Kalamazoo) or even greater. Madrid is the capital and largest city in Spain, and is the third largest in the European Union behind London and Paris with a total metropolitan area of over 6.5 million. Some other cities and towns that would be associated with Madrid may include Seville, which lies a distance away but is a city that is more on a regional scale and still quite large (think Detroit). A town/small city that perfectly fits the mold of this theory is Avila, which has a population of over 50,000 but in any measure I could find, never was greater than 70,000. That could be a city like a Kalamazoo. In terms of bigger cities, I suppose Paris and London are the only two that could qualify as larger cities, and they aren't so substantially larger that I would say Madrid is below them on the hierarchy.
2. Madrid, being such a large city, offers virtually everything a smaller city wouldn't offer, including extensive depth in terms of entertainment and sports (multiple athletic franchises) and business (Madrid was once a top-10 city to do business in) to healthcare (various hospitals in Madrid). As far as what Madrid does not have that another city would, it is very tough to say without having lived there. Based on my research, Madrid is pretty much covered in all aspects, although perhaps France being more to the center of Europe may give them some more European Union offices.

News Summary Bog #3 Due 5/21/14- "Spain set to start privating routes"

This news blog was especially difficult to do, especially considering that there haven’t really been any great news articles that can relate to any class topics we have discussed recently. Saying that, the article I selected is called, “Spain set to start privatizing routes.” This article deals with Renfe (, which is the leading rail operator in Spain (owned by the government). It is a leader in both freight and passenger models, but they have recently decided to allow for private competition in order to quell some of the debt acquired by Renfe. The move had been noted as a possibility when Renfe had already begun to take steps in this direction by dropping their prices, and also splitting up their company into multiple divisions.

            The best this can relate to what we’ve talked about in class has to be our discussions on freight transportation. Renfe does work with freight, and this move clearly could have an impact on prices, and potentially, how materials are imported into Spain. If the price continues to drop as a result of competition, that could open up Spain for a greater potential market to come.

            What set this up was the slippery slope of the economic crisis. Renfe was debt-ridden as a result of this, and in order to save their company and the rail industry in Spain, the government clearly felt this was the best option. There was also mention that this move had been anticipated, so measures had been taken previously that weren’t yielding the results they need, so this was their next move.

http://www.thelocal.es/20140516/renfe-spain-set-to-privatize-first-train-routes-railway

"Junkyard Planet" by Adam Minter

A.         Pretty earlier on, you got the sense that much of what Minter would be focusing on would be about price. And as is the case with this question, that turns out to be the truth. On pages 94 and 95, Minter talks about his dialogue with Howard, and lays out all the reasons why India would be a prime market for scrap. However, as we expected, it is more expensive to ship to India (about 5 cents more per pound) which, in a time when efficiency is the name of the game, just isn’t going to cut it. Furthermore, India doesn’t enjoy the discounts because they do not share trade as substantial as the trade China shares with the United States.

B.         On pages 100-101, when Minter is talking with Sunil, I felt this best illustrated a larger issue related to globalization. While it does help out some countries who fall under the right criteria, it can hurt others who cannot afford to keep up. This is India compared to China. One of the most telling parts is when Minter explains that the cost of shipping would kill any sort of possible deal between Sunil and an American company, and Sunil is clearly disappointed. Furthermore, the poverty in India, as evidenced by an earlier note stating that the workers earn far less, implies that globalization has not helped with the standard of living there, and likely in many other countries as well.

C.         Relating this to the Diamond article we read earlier in the term, I would assume that a lot of times, you kind of just luck out with where you are in the world. I would imagine that if China and India were switched, then it may switch their fortunes as well. India is pretty much as far from the US as you can get, and China is simply across the Pacific Ocean. Because of how secluded India is comparatively to other countries, they haven’t been able to develop as rapidly (although we are quickly seeing that change).

How the Shipping Container Made the World Smaller and the World Economy Bigger

1.         The section I found most interesting was the section that begins with: “How much the container matters to the world economy is…” a little ways down the screen. What I found so interesting about it was just how difficult it is to understand what a container means to the economy. When you think about a container, the initial perception is that it’s simple—and especially with the amount of resources and knowledge we have today, we should know what that means. Also noting the changes over time, and the effects of pretty much insignificant freight costs, really made me interested in this section.

2.         Just two paragraphs above my selected paragraph contains a paragraph that I felt was very telling of the overall effect of the container on the global economy. What Levinson essentially says is that while the development of transportation and the container does help both the exporter and the importer (which would imply that in any given situation, it helps everyone), he also points out the difficulties with containers, especially considering no one ACTUALLY knows what is going on inside. Overall, I get the impression that Levinson chooses to convey that the container is somewhat mysterious in what its actual effect is. In fact, at one point he says how it is impossible to quantify the actual effect on the world economy.

3.         In terms of global transportation, I could see the gainers and losers varying depending on the situation (meaning time, items, etc). Overall, lower transportation costs seem to benefit the consumers the most, as they will be able to buy cheaper products. It’s why so many made in China or Bangladesh labels are seen, it’s because they’re cheaper, both due to transportation costs, and production costs (but I won’t get into that right now…). It may also be beneficial to the exporting country, as they will have more buyers for their products. Overall, I think it would definitely depend on the situation.

News Summary Blog #2 Due 5/7/14: "Spain's Economy Grows at Fastest Pace in Six Years"

According to a preliminary estimate by Spain’s statistic instititute, the Instituto Nacional de Estadistica (INE), Spain’s economy has grown at its fastest pace in the past six years. According to the report, the economy grew by 0.4% during the quarter from January 1^st to March 31^st, which is the largest growth that Spain has experienced since a property bubble burst in 2008. The article comes from the Wall Street Journal, and the link is included here: http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702303678404579533123626167180.

            In terms of relating this to what we have learned and discussed in class, it is important to remember the GDP model, which stipulates that Consumption+Investment+Government Expenditure+Net Exports=Gross Domestic Product. With this article, we understand that the GDP has grown by 0.4%, meaning that certain aspects of the equation must have caused the rise. Through the article, it is noted that consumption has risen, as evidenced by a Spanish clothing brand, Zara, experiencing greater sales in Spain in their more recent months than they had in any quarter the past six years.

            As previously stated, consumption increases have played a big part in why growth is the best it has been. There has also been greater corporate investment in Spain, which has helped the growth. However, it is important not to read too much into this, as it is stated that the net exports factor has begun to slowdown, and the growth could be short-lived. Further adding to that stress is the continually high unemployment rate, which is expected to remain over 20% for at least the next three years (although Spain does expect to have 3% growth by then). Adding to the issues even more is the looming difficulty of inflation, which is a whole other monster that creates tougher loan environments. Overall, this article portrays both the recovery of Spain’s economy, but also the looming issues and problems that must be dealt with in the coming year.

Spain: Transportation

In terms of transportation, the first thing to note is Spain’s location—it is in Western Europe, and borders the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea. When considering major ocean ports, Spain has a plethora of Atlantic Ocean ports. On the Atlantic Ocean, there are numerous ports of similar sizes. Among the notable ports include the Port of Vigo, which is the biggest fishing port in the world with close to 800,000 tons of fish and shellfish in the latest data (2008). Other important ports include the Port of Coruña and Málaga. The largest port in the country is in Barcelona, which is on the Mediterranean Sea, and is one of the largest in Europe, especially for its commercial significance.

            Spain has a number of railways of both freight and passenger trains. It operates on four gauges, and some gauges are shared with the adjacent countries of Spain, Portugal, and Andorra. There are numerous companies that operate on the rails in Spain, but two really dominate the market. RENFE controls most of the railways, while others are operated by FEVE. You can also get around Europe using a Eurail pass, which is the most efficient way to travel around Europe cheaply (more likely than not, I will be using this service while abroad). There is a high-speed rail between Madrid and Lisbon, Portugal.

            As far as air travel is concerned, Barajas International Airport in Madrid is the largest airport in Spain. Barcelona, Palma de Mallorca, and Málaga are three other large airports in Spain. Ryan Air offers some of the cheapest transportation through the air around Europe.