Economic Activity and Energy Flashcards
what is the cycle of poverty
A self perpetuating pattern of poverty and deprivation that passes from one generation to the next it is perpetuated by poor educational opportunities and low income
what is de-industrialiasation
the process whereby the importance of manufacturing in the economy declines
what is disposable income
income that is left after taxes and social security charges have been deducted, income that can be spent or saved as a household
what is economic sector
a major division of the economy based on the type of economic activity. The economies of all countries are made up of three sectors
What is globalisation
a primarily economic process, increasing the integration of national markets for goods and services into a single global economy of market
What is global shift
The movement of manufacturing from HICs to cheaper production locations in LICs
What is industrialisation
the process by which an economy is changed from a primarily agricultural one to one based on the manufacturing of goods
informal employment
Types of work that are not officially recognized and are taken up by people working for themselves on the streets of LIC cities like shoe shining, selling stuff on the street
what is outsourcing
a practice used by some companies to obtain goods or services by contract from an outside supplier, rather than providing those goods or services themselves
what is overpopulation
when the population of an area cannot be adequately supported by available resources
What is the primary Sector
economic activities concerned with the working of natural resources-agriculture, fishing, mining, and quarrying
what is the secondary sector
economic activities concerned with making things, such as cars, buildings and electricity
what is the tertiary sector
activities that provide a wide range of services and enable goods to be traded
what is the quaternary sector
economic activities that provide highly skilled services such as collecting and processing information, research and development
what is the production chain
a sequence of stages in which companies exploit resources, transform them into goods and distribute them to consumers; it is a pathway along which goods travel from producers to consumers
what is a sector shift
a change in relative importance of an economy’s sector
what is a transnational company(TNC)
a large company operating in several countries and often involved in a variety of economic activites
what is underemplyment
a situation in which a person seeking full-time employment can only find part-time jobs
what is the energy gap
the difference between energy demand and energy supply
what is energy security
the ability of a country to meet all of its energy needs reliably, preferably within its own borders
what is the energy mix
the different types of energy that comprise the supply of energy for a country. It is best to have a varied energy mix so a country isn’t over-reliant on one course if there is ever a problem with its supply
what is energy demand
amount of energy needed to meet the needs of the population
High tech industry
Economic activities that rely on advanced scientific research and produce new, innovative and technologically advanced products, such as microchips, new medical drugs and new materials
what is energy production and its factors
amount of energy produced by each energy source
Energy demand and production varies globally and is effected by:
population growth,
increased wealth
technological advances
what is primary energy source
fuels that provide energy without undergoing any conversion process (coal, natural gas and fuelwood)
what is secondary energy source
made from processing primary fuels (electricity, petrol and coke)
what are non-renewable energy sources
once used they cannot be replaced (fossil fuels (coal, oil and gas))
what are renewable energy sources
energy that is naturally replenished on a short timescale that can be used again and again (solar wind and geothermal). Renewable energy sources are often referred to as ‘clean’ as they do not pollute the atmosphere
what is carbon footprint
the amount of carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere as a result of the activities of a particular individual, organisation or community
what is ecological footprint
the impact of a person or community on the environment, expressed as the amount of land required to sustain their use of natural resources (including waste)
what are factors that influence energy consumption and production
-time-wealth/development levels-population growth-technological advancements-availability/value-conflict-geopolitical tensions-economic prosperity/crisis-global crisis-natural disasters
advantages of fossil fuels
-large amounts of electricity can be generated relatively cheaply
-electricity generation using fossil fuels is efficient-moving fossil fuels is easy
-fossil fuels power stations can be built almost anywhere (where fossil fuels can be accessed)
disadvantages of fossil fuels
-there is a finite supply of fossil fuels-fossil fuels produce carbon dioxide which contributes to the enhance greenhouse effect)coal produces more CO2 and sulphur dioxide than oil and gas)-Mining (coal) can be particularly dangerous and damage the environment (strip mining and tar sands)-Potential for accidental pollution events
advantages of wind energy
-wind is free, wind farms need no fuel-produces no waste or greenhouse gases-The land beneath can usually be used for farming-A good method of supplying energy to remote areas
Disadvantages of wind energy
-The wind is not always predictable - some days have no wind -suitable areas for wind farms are often near the coast, where land is expensive-some people feel that covering the landscape with these towers is unsightly-can kill birds - migrating flocks tend to like strong winds
Advantages of HEP (hydro-electric power)
-Once the dam is built, the energy is virtually free
-No waste or pollution produced
-Much more reliable than wind, solar or wave power
-Water can be stored above the dam ready to cope with peaks in demand
-Hydro-electric power stations can increase to full power very quickly unlike other power stations
-Electricity can be generated constatnly
disadvantages of HEP (hydro-electric power)
-The dams are very expensive to build-building a large dam will flood a very large area upstream, causing problems for animals that used to live there-finding a suitable site can be difficult - the impact of residents and the environment may be unacceptable. -Water quality and quantity downstream can be affected, which can have an impact on plant life
Advantages of Geothermal energy
-does not produce any pollution and does not contribute to the greenhouse effect-power stations do not take up much room, so there is not much impact on the environment-no fuel is needed-Once a geothermal power station is built, the energy is almost free-little energy needed to run a pump can be taken from the energy being generated
disadvantages of geothermal energy
-not many places where you can build a geothermal power station-you need hot rocks of a suitable type, at a depth where we can drill down to them-the type of rock above is also important, it must be of a type we can easily-sometimes a geothermal site may ‘run out of steam’ perhaps for decades-hazardous gases and minerals may come up from underground and can be difficult to safely dispose of
advantages of shale gas (fracking)
-efficient and cost effective method
disadvantages of shale gas (fracking)
-contamination of drinking water courses-lots of water used (8 million litres), plus sand and chemicals-causes earthquakes-releases greenhouse gases-large energy consumption-drill holes quickly exhausted, so more needed than more conventional methods
advantages of uranium (nuclear)
-not expensive-does not produce smoke or carbon dioxide-lots of energy from small amounts of fuel-little waste-very reliable
disadvantages of nuclear energy
-very dangerous-must be sealed up and buried for thousands of years to allow radioactivity to die away, and must be kept away from natural disasters and terrorists-lots of money spent to keep it safe
advantages of solar energy
-free-no fuel and no waste-easy to get electricity in sunny remote places-good for low-power uses like solar powered garden lights and battery chargers-cost coming down as tech improves
disadvantages for solar energy
-only works in day time and in temperate climates-very expensive to build solar stations-solar cells are expensive for the amount they will produce in their lifetime
advantages of biomass energy
-uses waste materials-cheap fuel-less demand on fossil fuels
disadvantages of biomass energy
-collecting or growing the fuel in sufficient quantities can be difficult-greenhouse gases from fossil fuels-some waste materials are not available all year round
how can energy be managed sustainably through education
informing people and businesses on how best to use energy
how can energy be managed sustainably through efficiency
ensuring that energy sources are used in an effective manner so there is little wastage
how can energy be managed sustainably through coservation
preserving energy sources
explain the primary sector on the Clark-Fisher model
-pre-industrial = labour intensive sector
-mechanisation in the industrial period reduced the need for labour
-the decline in primary sector has continued post
-industrialisation, especially with increasing food imports and further advancements in technology
explain the secondary sector on the Clark-Fisher model
-people are forced out of primary sector found jobs in the increasing secondary sector
-the peak was during the industrial period where manufacturing was at its height
-steady decline of people working in manufacturing during post-industrial period due to technological improvements
-many secondary jobs are moving abroad due to cheaper labour
explain the tertiary sector on the Clark-Fisher model
-steadily increasing since the pre-industrial period
-more and more people required to sell the increasing number of goods produced by the secondary sector
-recent fluctuations due to technological improvements but also customer care is desired
explain the quaternary sector on the Clark-Fisher model
-growth only begins to occur in the post-industrial societies
-high levels of technology and skill involved which require significant investment (public and private funding)
-growth in this sector can further decline the employment in other sectors due to rapid technological improvements
benefits of the urban fringe
-good accessibility
-room for expansion
-cheap land
-lots of car parking space
-attractive environment, little pollution
-workers and work available close by
what is the multiplier effect
tertiary sector growth > more and better jobs > more personal income > more personal spending > more demand for goods and services
explain the economic sectors in LICs
-growth only begins to occur in the post-industrial societies-high levels of technology and skill involved which require significant investment(public and private funding)-growth in this sector and further decline the employment in other sector due to rapid technological improvements
explain the economic sectors in NICs
-rapid increase in manufacturing due to foreign direct investment (FDI) from TNCs taking advantage or large populations, low wages and government incentives-declining employment in the primary sector due to mechanisation
-When NICs become advanced enough a quaternary sector will begin to emerge
explain economic sectors in HICs
-post industrial societies-The majority of people work in the tertiary sector - due to increased incomes-a growing quaternary sector - due to investment and skillDeclining manufacturing due to :-multi national corporations (MNCs) manufacturing abroad (offshoring) for cheap labour etc. and technological improvements reduce the need for workers
influencing factors of number of people employed in economic sectors
-mechanisation of agriculture-advancements in industrial machinery-transport reducing the ‘friction of distance’ including horse and cart, train, car, plane, shipping, containerisation-better communications (phone, text, internet etc)-New high-tech industries created (biotech, robotics, coding, aerospace, telecommunication, software programmers
how to measure importance of each sector for an economy
- percentage of total workforce employed in the sector2. contribution to overall economic output - percentage of GDP or GNI
what is the shift in industry in the UK
the shift of manufacturing from the UK to other countries
what caused the shift in industry in the UK
-globalisation : international trade, imports, cheaper labour abroad-government policies : privatisation (British telecom and British gas). In the 1980s the government closed a lot of factories and coal pits as they could not compete in LICs with lower wages. Low taxes in the 1990s meant more disposable income = multiplier effect-government believes science and research are important for the UK’s growth because they help discover new ways for the country to move forwards in a sustainable way
positives of the economic sector shift in the UK
more jobs in the tertiary and quaternary sector = positive multiplier effect, more research and development, more education, higher house prices etc
negatives of the economic sector shift in the UK
-people losing jobs-north south divide (lower incomes, unemployment and standard of living in the North vs the South
effects of overpopulation
population > resources
unsustainable situation leads to famine, water and electricity shortages increased underemployment. (Brazil and India)
effects of underpopulation
resources > populationsurplus in food and water results in wastes. Societal systems (schools, hospitals) won’t have enough demand to run at a sustainable level = cost per capita increases (Canada and Australia)
how to achieve optimum population
population = resources
-controlling population growth (family planning)
-reducing own resource competition by using resources much more efficiently and cutting out waste
-making sure that development is less based on natural resources
what is the Boserup theory
Optimistic Theory
Growth in population stimulates an improvement in production.
Technological developments resolve any problems (mechanisation)
what is the Malthus theory
Pessimistic theory
population growth occurs at a faster rate than food/resource supply. Eventually will reach a point where there is no longer good supply to feed the population. At this point population growth would stop either by lowering birth rates or increasing death rates
reasons for deindustrialisation in the UK
- global shift in manufacturing to new emerging economies (NEEs)2. an increase in the number of machines used to carry out work
negative impacts for deindustrialisation in the UK
decline of manufacturing in the UK (car manufacturing and ship buildings which led to unemployment and deprivation in some UK towns and cities DUE TO FACTORY CLOSURES
why are informal economies prevalent in LICs
-significant amounts of rural > urban migration creating a surplus of labour (unemployment and underemployment)
-workers are unskilled and illiterate making them unsuitable for formal employment
-increasing wealth creating a demand for services
-people look to the informal employment sector to help boost their earnings to help break the cycle of poverty
examples of employment in the informal sector
largely in the primary or tertiary sector
-shoe shining
-rubbish collecting-prostitution
-scavenging
-paratransit (cheap urban transport)
economic output of Dharavi
$600 million to more than $1 billion
positives of Dharavi informal economy
-provides income for population of Dharavi, disposable income from informal sector can be used to send children to school
-accessible work for low-skilled population
-cheaper products
-more take
-home profit as its not taxed
negatives of Dharavi informal economy
-poor working conditions
-higher tax burden for registered labour, informal practices undermine law and governance
-negative consequences for competitiveness and growth for formal economy in India
-lack of protection in the event of non-payment wages
-compulsory overtime or extra shifts
-layoff without compensation or notice-absence of social benefits (pensions, sick pay and health insurance)
how has employment structure changed in Nigeria
employment in agriculture has steadily declined due to mechanism and competition from other forms of employment offering better pay in the secondary and tertiary sector
disparities within Nigeria
-gender equality in Nigeria is bad, women are considered subordinate compared to males.-urban pay is much higher than rural pay
what grows Nigeria’s economy
-oil, mechanisation and finance and real estate
what will stop Nigeria’s economic growth
-inadequate infrastructure-obstacles to investment-tariffs and non-tariffs barriers to trade
how does multiplier effect impact Nigeria
Nigeria manufacturers do well, so more companies go there as well
how do oil refinery positively impact Nigeria
-provides more jobs-charities-investing money-pay tax-uses local companies
how do oil refinery negatively impact Nigeria
-pollute environment-human rights abuses-employees in LICs work for long hours in poor conditions-profits go to HQs in HICs
How does China use education for energy management
-education on the need for sustainable use of energy is focussed on business leaders and government authorities
-officials can face criminal proceedings for violating energy conservation laws
-failures to meet targets are taken into account when assessing performance of officials and business leaders
-education for the general public is done by creating awareness through simple advertising campaigns-people are also encouraged to limit their use of heating and air conditioning. Public buildings an be no cooler than 26C in the summer and no warmer than 20C in the winter
How does China use conservationfor energy management
-China has made major investments in the transport sector with significant pushes towards green public transport
How does China use efficiency for energy management
passive housing - buildings that do not require any conventional buildings heating of account of its excellent thermal insulation.Heating demand is met through ‘passive’ sources such as solar radiation or waste head from occupants
how does UK manage energy resources
legislation
-all coal-fired power stations to be shut by 2025-huge investment in wind
-UK government Net Zero by 2050
-UK electricity suppliers by law have to meet a specified proportion of electricity from renewable sources
Taxation
-high tax set on pollution, giving businesses an incentive to cut pollutionCarbon Tax
