changing economic world pt.2 Flashcards
includes nigeria stuff
describe nigeria’s location:
- west Africa
- borders Atlantic Ocean
- borders Benin, Chad, Niger, Cameroon
- 4 degrees north of equator
- capital city: Abuja
what are some facts about Nigeria?
- was part of British empire until 1960.
- many ethnic groups (e.g. igbo) try to dominate the Niger-Delta region. 5 tribal (cultural/religious) groups are competing for control of Nigeria.
describe the two halves of Nigeria:
- North is arid, dry, hot. On the edge of the Sahel Region (subject to desertification). Poor, hard to live in, hard to farm.
- South is an easier climate. Much richer. Mainly Christian.
- In the Niger-Delta region (south), an oil source has been discovered, providing a much richer and better quality of life. it supplies 2.7% of the world’s oil.
- its coastline means it can trade more, and therefore develop more.
what are some economic facts about Nigeria?
- according to the World Bank, Nigeria is an NEE with a GNI of around $1600.
- its economy grew by 7% each year for a decade.
- in 2023, it had the world’s 30th largest GDP.
what is Nigeria’s global importance?
- 6th most populous country in the world (233 million).
- 12th largest producer of oil (2.7%).
- 5th largest contributor to UN peacekeeping missions globally.
what is Nigeria’s importance to Africa?
- one of the fastest growing economies in Africa.
- in 2020, had largest GDP in Africa.
- population of 233 mil (highest in Africa).
- highest farming output in Africa.
- fair and democratic elections - unusual for Africa.
what is the political context of Nigeria?
- country had a civil war that ended in 1970. only since 1999 has it had a stable government.
- became independent from the UK in 1960.
what is the social context of Nigeria?
- American corporations such as Walmart, and It giants such as Microsoft are operating in Nigeria.
- the Islamic group Boko Haram gave caused terror and have scared multiple investors away, causing a rise in unemployment.
- the Nigerian football team won the African Cup of Nations 3 times, and many Nigerians have played in the premier league.
what is the environmental context of Nigeria?
- rainfall is decreasing in the desert in the North, surrounded by Sahara Desert.
- conditions in the South make it difficult for cattle as the tsetse fly transmits disease.
- high temps and annual rainfall means most of the South is forest and can grow cacao, palm oil and rubber.
what is the cultural context of Nigeria?
- Nigerian music is very popular.
- home to many famous writers.
- Nigerian film industry ‘Nollywood’ is the second largest in the world.
- economic inequality between the North and South has created religious and ethnic tensions. it’s a multi-faith country (islam, christian)
describe African Union as one of Nigeria’s political links:
economic planning and peacekeeping group. linked with Niger, Chad, Benin, and Cameroon. they provide troops to each other.
describe ECOWAS as one of Nigeria’s political links:
ECOWAS = Economic Community of West African States.
- trading group for west African countries.
- Nigeria holds a lot of the power, the ECOWAS HQ is in Abuja.
describe OPEC as one of Nigeria’s political links:
OPEC = Organisation of Petrol Exporting Countries.
- aims to stabilise oil prices and ensures a regular global supply.
- Nigeria therefore holds power as it’s part of this organisation.
describe Nigeria’s imports:
NIGERIA’S GLOBAL TRADING RELATIONSHIP
- main imports are cars, rice and wheat.
- also imports mobile phones from China, as they can’t produce them.
- import food as well when they can’t grow their staple crops, as their population is massive.
describe Nigeria’s exports:
NIGERIA’S GLOBAL TRADING RELATIONSHIP
- major global trading nation.
- main exports are crude oil (sent overseas) and refined petroleum (sent by land).
- crude oil is its main export. vital source of income, its economy relies heavily on it.
who was Nigeria’s main oil buyer until 2013?
the USA. Nigeria’s oil is better quality than the Middle East.
describe LICs and HICs trading relationship:
LICs and NEEs create primary products (e.g. crops). HICs create high tech products, using primary products from LICs.
what is quality of life?
the standard of health, comfort, and happiness experienced by a person or group. e.g. healthy work-life balance, clean environment with clean air.
‘If a country’s GNI increases, the quality of life for the citizens SHOULD also improve.’
explain this in terms of healthcare:
- better quality healthcare. more well-trained doctors, better-equipped hospitals, more people can be seen to. people can be cured of their illness quicker, and can continue with their lives.
- life expectancy increases. rarer diseases can still be treated due to advanced medical equipment. lower infant mortality and death rate.
‘If a country’s GNI increases, the quality of life for the citizens SHOULD also improve.’
explain this in terms of diet:
- people are intaking the nutrients they require, so are less susceptible to harmful disease.
- higher life expectancy (less processed foods).
- you can go to work if you’re healthy - people in informal jobs don’t get paid if they don’t work.
‘If a country’s GNI increases, the quality of life for the citizens SHOULD also improve.’
explain this in terms of access to safe water and sanitation:
- no need to take hours out of the day collecting water, so they can focus on their actual life.
- better sanitation means disease isn’t spread as easily, so medical attention isn’t needed as much, life expectancy increases.
‘If a country’s GNI increases, the quality of life for the citizens SHOULD also improve.’
explain this in terms of electricity:
- reliable electricity provides heating and lighting (powers street lamps, so less crime).
- provides adequate shelter, keeps appliances and businesses running.
what is HDI?
runs between 0.00 and 1. a score closer to 1 means a country is more developed.
describe how the quality of life has changed in Nigeria between 1990 and 2020:
- life expectancy changed from 46 to 55.
- access to safe water changed from 46% to 67%.
- secondary school enrolment increased from 25% to 48%.
- still 60% of Nigerians live in poverty.
define industrial structure:
the relative proportion of the workforce employed in different sectors of the economy.
define the primary sector:
collection of raw materials (mining, fishing, farming).
define the secondary sector:
manufacturing of raw materials into a product.
define the tertiary sector:
selling the manufactured product or selling a service.
define the quaternary sector:
providing information services, such as computing and future research and development.
describe Nigeria’s changing industrial structure:
- primary share of GDP has decreased (around 50%).
- secondary share has increased by 15%.
- tertiary share has increased by 33%.
- it’s become an NEE.
why is Nigeria’s economy developing?
- investment in science and technology training. rapid advances in technology.
- information technology is beginning to drive the economy.
- increased use of telecommunications. Nigeria is able to benefit from global finance and trade.
- many people speak English, giving potential growth in telecommunications.
describe Nigeria’s manufacturing sector:
growing faster than any other sector (oil, agriculture). amounts to 52% of GDP. creates thousands of well-paid jobs. makes:
- processed foods.
- textiles.
- leather items.
- soaps, detergents.
why is the manufacturing sector growing in Nigeria?
- in the past manufacturing growth was hindered by Nigeria’s dependence on the export of raw materials, so most processing was done abroad.
- with its growing home market, cheap labour force and improving infrastructure, the manufacturing sector seems likely to increase in the future.
how has the growing manufacturing sector affected economic development?
- regular paid work gives people a more secure income and provides an ever-larger home market for purchasing products such as cars.
- as industries grow, more people are employed and revenue from taxes increases.
- thriving industrial sector attracts investment from abroad which stimulates further economic growth.
define a TNC:
Trans-National Corporation.
- a large company that operates in several countries.
- usually has its headquarters in its origin country, with production plants in several others.
why would a TNC want to locate in an NEE/LIC like Nigeria?
- the country may charge them less corporation tax than their home country (e.g. UK charges 25% of the company’s profits).
- cheaper labour, meaning more profit. companies offer workers a wage that seems fair to them but is actually very low.
- more slack environmental laws. instead of disposing of waste responsibly, you can dispose of it cheaply and easily.
- access to a wider market.
what are the advantages of TNCs in Nigeria?
- allow import of new technologies, improving the country.
- oil refineries, use lots of local companies to help them run. positive multiplier effect.
- create jobs.
- try to clean up after they accidentally damage the environment.
- pay tax, which is used by the government to help their people.
how has Shell helped Nigeria?
- They have the Shell foundation to help sustainability and biodiversity and help local communities.
- Paid £20 billion in corporation tax in 2013.
- have invested $12 billion in LICs to encourage development.
- direct employment for 65,000 Nigerian workers, 250,000 jobs in related industries.
what are the disadvantages of TNCs in Nigeria?
- accused of human rights abuses in the past. employees work for 12+ hours in poor conditions. child labour allegations.
- LIC jobs aren’t secure. they could lose their jobs without warning if the company decided to move somewhere cheaper.
- LIC employees paid less than HIC employees for more intense jobs.
- pollute the environment.
describe the company Shell:
- anglo-dutch TNC.
- headquarters in the Netherlands.
- world’s largest oil company, operates in the Niger Delta (one of the most difficult places to extract oil from in the world).
- have invested a lot of money and expertise into extracting oil from here.
what are the negatives of the company Shell:
- oil spills have caused water pollution and soil degradation, reducing agricultural production and fishing yields.
- frequent oil flares send toxic fumes into the air.
what is the difference between developmental aid and emergency aid?
developmental: long term aid given by charities or the government to improve the quality of life e.g. hospitals, schools.
emergency: usually follows a natural disaster, war, or conflict. e.g. food, medical supplies.
why can Nigeria’s GNI be deceiving?
- high ranking GNI.
- ranked 161 on HDI.
- 39% of population live below poverty line of $1.90 a day.
- infant mortality is 54 deaths per 1,000 births. from malnourishment of mother, poor birth conditions.
describe the aid given to Nigeria:
Nigeria receives 4% of all aid given to African countries. they (e.g. USA) try to get on Nigeria’s good side to receive more oil.
how does Nigeria benefit from aid?
- aid from the USA helps to educate and protects people against the spread of HIV/AIDs.
- $500 million was given by the World Bank in 2014 to fund development projects and long term loans for businesses.
- the NGO ‘Nets for Life’ provides education on malaria prevention and distributes anti-mosquito nets.
how does corruption prevent aid from being used effectively?
money is taken by officials before it can reach the people who need it.
how does diversion prevent aid from being used effectively?
aid money may be spent on other purposes. there are rumours that aid money helped build up Nigeria’s navy.
how does political influence prevent aid from being used effectively?
donors may have an influence on what the aid money is being spent on rather than the receiving country.
what is the impact of industrial growth on the environment?
- some industries dispose of chemical waste on nearby land, threatening the groundwater quality.
- industrial chimneys emit poisonous gases that can cause respiratory and heart problems.
- 70-80% of Nigeria’s forests have been destroyed through industries such as logging, agriculture, urban expansion, roads and industrial development.
what is the impact of urban growth on the environment?
- urban traffic congestion leads to high levels of exhaust emissions.
- squatter settlements are common, building over natural vegetation.
what is the impact of commercial farming and forestry on the environment?
- many animal species have disappeared due to deforestation, along with almost 500 plant species.
- commercial farming has led to water pollution due to farming chemicals and soil erosion.
what is the impact of mining and oil on the environment?
- tin mining leads to soil erosion. local water supplies are polluted by toxic chemicals.
- oil spills in the niger delta region can cause fires, sending CO2 and other harmful gases into the atmosphere. this causes acid rain, harming plants and aquatic systems.
what is economic change?
the development of a country’s economy, shown in the change in popularity of the employment sectors (e.g. primary, secondary, tertiary, quaternary).
describe the changes in the UK employment structure:
- primary: made up 70% of jobs pre-industrial. now makes up only 10%.
- secondary: only made up 20% before industrial times. rose massively during industrial revolution, back to 30% today.
- tertiary: steadily increased from 10% to 70%.
- quaternary: only came about recently, makes up 20% of jobs now.
describe de-industrialisation, and how that’s led to a change in the UK employment structure:
the decline in traditional manufacturing industries.
- automation: more machines than people.
- exhaustion of raw materials, so primary sectors no longer have any business.
- a global shift in manufacturing to NEEs such as China, where wages are lower, working hours are longer, therefore more profit.
- lack of investment by companies, high labour costs, and outdated machinery has made UK products too expensive.
what are the impacts of de-industrialisation?
- empty, derelict buildings
- rises in crime and poverty
- mass unemployment (as they have no transferrable skills)
describe globalisation, and how that’s led to a change in the UK employment structure:
- the growth and spread of ideas around the world.
increased connectivity around the world. companies can locate jobs in the UK, leading to an increase in tertiary and quaternary sectors. migration and trade is made possible by transport, communication, and the internet. - manufacturing has moves overseas, leading to a decline in UK manufacturing. better trade means more better quality and cheaper products have been imported to the UK.
- TNCs have moved their tertiary and quaternary jobs to the UK, as the UK workforce is educated.
describe government policies:
policies put in place to control and boost the economy.
1945-1979: government activity propped up the declining UK industry and companies such as, the National Coal Board and British Rail. ageing equipment, outdated practices, and too many employees made it unprofitable.
- it was a decade of strikes, social unrest, power cuts, and factory closures.
1979-2010: state-run industries were sold to private shareholders, creating a more competitive business environment. older industries shut, jobs were lot. derelict industrial areas transformed into financial centres and modern retail outlets.
- Margaret Thatcher believed that if you can’t fight and survive as a company when not supported by the Government, then you shouldn’t run at all.
2010-…: the aim is to rebalance the economy - rebuild the manufacturing sector, rely less on service/financial industries.
- improvement to transport infrastructure
- investment in manufacturing industries
- easier access to loans/finance for small businesses
- encouraging global firms to locate in the UK
how has a change in government policies led to a change in the UK employment structure?
- membership of trade agreements and organisations has made it easier to trade overseas. therefore products are purchased from other countries, and less manufacturing is done in the UK.
- decisions on taxes, tariffs, and quotas. some companies may choose to be based in countries with more lax laws. this leads to a decrease in the country’s manufacturing companies.
how has the post-industrial economy been created through the development of IT?
- over 670,000 people work in IT (quaternary).
- around 100,000 software companies operate in the UK.
- IT industry worth £58 billion per year in the UK.
- better internet access means people can work from home (more tertiary/quaternary).
- UK is one of the world’s leading digital economies, attracting foreign businesses/investments.
how has the post-industrial economy been created through the growth of service industries?
- service sector makes up 3/4 of the UK economy.
- 4 million are employed in retail jobs.
- UK exports many services (e.g. tourism, education). second largest exporter of services globally.
how has the post-industrial economy been created through the development of finance?
- jobs include accountancy, banking and building societies, insurance, investments, pensions.
- the UK is home to many global financial institutions, such as Barclays. HSBC has their global HQ in the UK.
- 10% of UK’s GDP, employs over 2 million.
how has the post-industrial economy been created through the development of research?
- research and development is increasing, using highly skilled university graduates. 60,000 people have been employed for this job role.
- in 2016, over £33 billion was spent on research and development in the UK.
- research is done in universities, and in private companies/government bodies.
- examples of UK research organisations: biotechnology, charities (cancer research), MoD, NHS, BBC.
what is a post-industrial economy?
where the manufacturing industry declined, replaced by a growth in tertiary and quaternary sectors.
what is the link between ‘de-industrialisation’ and a ‘post-industrial economy’?
de-industrialisation has led to a post-industrial economy.
what are business parks?
purpose built areas of offices and warehouses, often at the edge of a city and on a main road.
describe Adanac Business Park, in Southampton:
- north of Southampton city centre. easy access from the M27.
- Southampton airport is 6 miles away, Southampton port is 2 miles away, Southampton central railway station is 4 miles away.
- the company OS (Ordnance Survey) are located here.
- house office spaces, and light and general industrial spaces.
- accommodates up to 4,000 employees.
- accessible: car parking, bus stop, pedestrian access, cycle routes.
what is a science park?
group of scientific and technologically based industries located on one site. most are associated with universities, enabling them to use research facilities and employ skilled graduates.
what are the features of a science park?
- wet and dry laboratories for chemistry and biology.
- back-up gas and diesel generators to maintain experiments.
- climate controlled storage.
- super fast broadband connections.
describe the University of Southampton science park:
- gives you real-world advice and business advice
- mentoring
- provides a support network for small businesses
- laboratory equipment
describe Southampton cruise terminal:
- second largest cruise terminal in Europe
- handles over 500 ships and 2 million passengers every year
- 14,000 jobs created in the cruise ship terminal
- each cruise that stops by is worth £2.7 million to the local economy, which develops the area
what are the negative effects of cruise terminals on the environment?
- air pollution is a big problem, this port has some of the highest air pollution levels in Europe (most passengers arrive by car or coach)
- 6.4% of adult deaths are linked to poor air quality. over 90% of ships are powered by fossil fuels
- when ships are in port, they leave their engines running to provide power to the ship, contributing to air pollution
- water pollution and waste disposal are big problems
what are the solutions to the cruise terminal’s environmental problems?
- 2,000 solar panels on the roof provide clean, renewable energy for ships using plug-in charging. ships can therefore switch their engines off
- ships used to dump waste in the sea. the ship Azura now has 6 sewage treatment works on board, and treated waste is discarded off-shore
- the cruise company has committed to building 9 Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) powered ships by 2025 to add to the already existing 2. This produces 40% less CO2.
why are some young people moving away from rural areas?
- very high house prices
- a lack of job prospects
describe South Cambridgeshire:
- mostly rural area surrounding Cambridge.
- people are moving here from London and Cambridge.
- population increased by 35,000 in 20 years. expected to reach 182,000 by 2031.
what groups of people are moving to rural areas?
- highly skilled and educated people in high tech industries such as computer software engineering.
- migrant workers from the EU, who work in farms to produce fruit and veg for UK markets.
what are the social and economic impacts of the increase in the South Cambridgeshire population?
economic:
- people use the services where they work, instead of in SC, affecting the rural economy, as money isn’t being spent there.
- some of the highest petrol prices in the land, due to high demand.
- farmers selling land for housing development leads to a reduction in agri. employment.
- 12,400 increase in number of jobs in 9 years.
social:
- modern development and the gentrification of the village leads to a breakdown in community spirit and young people moving away as they can no longer afford to live there.
- house prices are far above the UK average, coming in at 9 times the average resident’s salary.
- more doctors, dentists, and school spaces are required, SC can’t keep up.
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describe the outer hebrides:
- a small group of islands of the north east coast of Scotland.
- population of around 27,000, experienced 50% population decrease since 1901.
- number of islanders of working age will decline by 20%, while children aged 15 or below will fall by 30%. the number of pensioners will rise by 11%.
describe the problems the OH faces due to its population:
social:
- limited education, housing, employment
- school closures inevitable (less and less children, and less government income)
- can’t afford to operate ferries to the mainland (even with the help from the government) or key services
- impossible to get working age staff to look after the vulnerable and elderly
- no sense of community, as it’s just elderly people
economy:
- its share of government funding is greatly reduced, due to its falling population.
- more elderly people and less young means less people working to generate income and taxes. elderly people require more health and care services, which is expensive for the local council.
how has the government tried to help the OH?
UK and Scottish Governments provide subsidies towards the cost of operating ferries and essential services.
what is counter-urbanisation?
spreading the wealth from urban to rural areas.
what is rural depopulation?
where the rural populations die out.
describe transport in the UK:
involves the movement of people and goods. transport systems and networks are efficient and important in allowing communities to grow. however, roads, rail, ports, and airports still require development and maintenance.
what is the road solution in the UK?
- the A303 is the main route to the south-west. at peak times, the road becomes heavily congested. this is bad for the environment, and people can’t get to work on time.
- the £2 billion road-widening project is the biggest to the undertaken. it will convert the route to a dual carriageway, add 1,300 lane miles and fix 60 problem junctions.
- it will also dig a 3km tunnel under Stonehenge.
describe crossrail:
- new railway for London and the South-East. goes from Reading in the West, through 42km of tunnels under London, to Essex, in the East.
- A.K.A. the Elizabeth Line, will be integrated into London’s existing transport network.
- easier for businesses to move around London to meet clients and negotiate with suppliers.
- easier access to major international gateways such as LHR. LHR to the city centre was 55 minutes, and is now 34 minutes.
- it brings 1.5 million more people within a 45 minute commute of the existing major employment centres (West End, Canary Wharf).
what is the importance of UK airports?
- creates vital global links
- provides thousands of jobs, boosts economic growth massively. employs 300,000 people, provides 3.6% of the UK’s GDP.
- over 2 million tonnes of freight is passed through UK airports every year.
- more than 750,000 international flights from the UK annually.
describe Heathrow’s improvement plan:
- want to build a third runway, which is very expensive.
- flight capacity right now is 480,000, and they’re 98% full.
- with a third runway, the flight capacity would increase to 740,000, and it would only be 64% full.
- it would be able to compete with other European hubs, such as Frankfurt and Paris.
- if Heathrow is less successful, airlines could move their business elsewhere, affecting the UK economy.
what are the benefits of the Heathrow improvement plan?
- will create jobs, facilitate more trade, and create more tourism. it will boost the economy of the rest of the UK, as more tax is paid to the Government, boosting development in other major cities.
- will create 60,000 jobs, will generate £70 billion in total economic benefits by the 2050s.
- 40 new destinations will be reached.
describe the UK’s port industry:
- largest in Europe
- handles containers, ferries and cruises. the UK’s largest ports are run by private companies which invest heavily.
- for example, Belfast port had £30 million invested in facilities to service the offshore renewable energy sector (wind, wave, tidal).
- 32 million passengers travel through UK ports every year. it employs around 120,000 people.
- 96% of all UK imports and exports enter and leave via ports.
describe Liverpool2:
- new container terminal at the Port of Liverpool
- scheme to construct a deep-water quay on the river Mersey, around £300 million
- more than doubles the port’s capacity to over 1.5 million containers per year.
- creates thousands of jobs
- boosts economy of the north-east
- reduces the amount of freight traffic on the road. less traffic congestion, quicker road delivery.
what is a North-South divide?
refers to the real or imagined cultural and economic differences between the North and South of ENGLAND.
describe the contrast between the North and South of England in terms of:
- economic activity
- incomes
- the North is heavily dependent on the public sector, compared to the South being private sector dominant.
- in the North, there are much lower incomes (the average household gross disposable income is around 13 and a half thousand). they heavily rely on benefits. the South have higher incomes (London’s average household gross disposable income is around 20 and a half thousand).
describe the contrast between the North and South of England in terms of:
- unemployment rates
- house prices
- the North have much higher unemployment (the NE region are at 7.7%). pockets of extreme unemployment, e.g. Glasgow. the South have lower unemployment. SE region = 4.4%.
- the house prices in the NE average at £154,000, and the house prices in the SE average at £305,000.
describe the contrast between the North and South of England in terms of:
- education
- life expectancy
- pupils from the North are less likely to achieve straight A grades at A-level and are less likely to go to Oxbridge. pupils from the South are 40% more likely to get top GCSE grades.
- lower life expectancy in the North (male = 71, female = 78). higher in the South (male = 83, female = 85).
what is (High Speed Rail 2) HS2?
- Government planning new high speed rail network (400m long trains, 1,100 seats per train), from London to Birmingham and to Manchester and Leeds. will improve transport network, boost economy.
- operate at speeds of up to 250mph, run as often as 14 times per hour. trebles the current capacity on trains between London and the West Midlands.
what are the benefits of HS2?
- will cut Birmingham-London times from 1hr 21 mins to 49 mins.
- Manchester-London and Birmingham-Leeds journeys will be reduced by around an hour each.
- could be a start for economic growth and to balance the economy between the North and South.
- Northern cities benefit from this, will be better connected to the rest of England.
- North to South trade and business will improve, companies won’t be so South orientated.
describe what happened to the HS2 project:
- in 2021 the Eastern leg was cancelled, and in 2023, the Western leg was cancelled. now only runs from London to Birmingham.
- there’s an argument that the money would have been better spent on connecting the Northern cities with railway lines directly linking the East to the West over the Pennines.
describe the Northern Powerhouse Idea:
- attempt to round up the North’s population of 15 million into a collective force to rival London and the SE. ensures decisions about the North are made in the North.
- redresses the North-South economic imbalance, attracts investment into Northern cities and towns. gives the cities the power and resources they need to reach their potential.
- Northern economies have strong manufacturing, science, technology, and service sectors.
- Government promised £13 billion on transport, £70 million on schools, £3.4 billion to support local projects.
describe how the UK uses electronic communication to stay connected to the wider world:
extensive global communication network, e.g. has a vast fibre optic cable network beneath the sea. powers mobile phones, the internet.
describe how transport helps the UK to stay connected to the wider world:
air: international airports connect the UK to cities on every continent (e.g. from Heathrow)
boat: huge freight ports around the country (e.g. Southampton port)
rail: rail links to mainland Europe (e.g. Eurostar, Eurotunnel)
describe how language and culture means the UK stays connected to the wider world:
TV/Films: Dr Who, Top Gear, Peppa Pig. Harry Potter, James Bond.
Music: Ed Sheeran, Harry Styles. Coldplay. 13.7% of all music listened to globally is by British artists. the 2022 top 10 global best-selling songs were all by British artists.
Sport: British football clubs/the Premier League are global brands. we’re known for reaching the semi-finals in the football world cup, and for our performance in the Olympics.
- English is the language of many countries, and the main business language.
define ‘trade’:
the buying and selling of goods and services between countries.
describe the UK’s trading relationships:
- trades globally, but mainly with EU countries (shorter journey, therefore less travel costs)
- outside the EU, its main trading partner is the US. inside the EU, it’s Germany.
- Many British TNCs have set up branches over the world (e.g. Barclays, Shell, Vodafone). Many foreign TNCs have set up in the UK (e.g. McDonalds, Nike, Coca-Cola).
what are the advantages of being in the EU?
- low prices of goods, and no charges when it comes to custom tax (charged when goods are transported/sold between states/countries).
- citizens are free to move from one member country to another (freely travel, study, work, live in any Europeans country).
- around 3.5 million jobs have been generated over the years.
- workers are protected - regulations regarding holidays, working hours, breaks, etc.
what are the disadvantages of being in the EU?
- not all policies are efficient (e.g. Common Agricultural Policy led to oversupply and higher prices of goods).
- overcrowding. being free to move between countries has led to overcrowding in the major UK cities and has increased price of houses and congestion on roads.
- costly to be a member of the EU cost per head ranges from £300 to just under £900. some countries pay more than others, however.
describe the Commonwealth:
has 52 countries (covering 20% of the Earth) that are former British Empire territory. with the King and Britain as the head of it, we still influence some power. the countries, however, have no legal obligation to each other, despite their common history, language, and laws.
