The reasons for this inverted shift can be traced to a shift in employment patterns occurring for the last twenty years. Industrial and heavy-transport functions have been drifting away from the inner areas, while the CBD has increasingly specialized its structure in the direction of white-collar professional and office employment. (See Map) Rising energy costs make commuting long-distance commuting undesirable, and the poorer members of Sydney society are being slowly transferred to the outer suburbs.
A rapid growth of office space has been seen in Sydney in response to its changing role in the international market. Banking has now become a major identity for Sydney, an ideal shift given its prominence in the Oceania region. "Since 1980, this [shift] has produced in Sydney what could be described as a global banking district covering some four hectares in the CBD and bounded by Bridge, York, Macquarie and King Streets."(7) Sydney has shifted and rebuilt itself to reflect the changing demands of global capitalism. It has made a place for itself in the emergent hierarchy of world cities.
Bibliography
Other Interesting and Informative Links
About the author
Comments: rfortier@macalester.edu
