Economic Development - UK Flashcards
Name 3 key causes of economic change in the UK
- De-industrialisation and decline of UK’s industrial base
- Globalisation
- Government policies
Explain how de-industrialisation and decline of UK’s industrial base has caused the economy to change
- Fewer jobs available in manufacturing & heavy industries (e.g. coal mining + steel production)
- Once were primary source of employment and income for UK
Explain how globalisation has caused the UK’s economy to change
- Lot of manufacturing moved overseas, where labour costs are lower
- Trade with other countries = increasingly important part of UK’s GDP
Explain how government policies have caused the UK’s economy to change
- Government decisions on investment in new infrastructure & technology + growth for businesses (e.g. tax breaks) affect of economy grows
- Membership in government groups e.g. World Trade Organisation
- = easier for companies in UK to operate across the world
- Membership in government groups e.g. World Trade Organisation
What is happening to tertiary and quaternary industries in the UK?
They’re growing
What is happening to secondary manufacturing in the UK?
It’s declining
Give evidence to support that tertiary and quaternary industries are growing in the UK
In 2011: Employed 81% of UK’s workforce & proportion is increasing
Name 4 important industries in the UK
- Services
- Information technology
- Finance
- Research
Why is services an important industry in the UK?
- Retail = UK’s largest sector
- Employs 4.4 million people
Why is information technology an important industry in the UK?
60,000+ employed in IT sector by companies like Microsoft and IBM
Why is finance an important industry in the UK?
- UK, especially City of London, = home to many global financial institutions
- e.g. HSBC’s global headquarters in UK
Why is research an important industry in the UK?
Research and development (R&D) increasing in UK
- Makes use of UK’s skilled university graduates
- In 2013: £30 billion = spent on R&D
Where are quaternary industries mainly found in the UK?
Science parks or business parks
Where are science parks or business parks in UK often located & why? (3x)
- Close to housing
- = accommodate workforce
- On outskirts of cities
- = near good transport links
- Near universities
- So research businesses in science parks = have access to university research
- = can develop cutting edge technology
- So research businesses in science parks = have access to university research
Name 3 reasons why the number of science and business parks have grown?
- Large & growing demand for high-tech products
- Science parks help develop new technology for these products
- Clusters of related businesses in one place = boost each other
- UK has high no. of strong research universities for businesses on science parks to form links with
What is the North-South divide?
Generally: Economic & social indicators better in south than north
What caused the North-South divide?
- Decline of heavy industry had greater negative impact on north
- & growth of post-industrial services industry benefited the south
Give 3 statements showing the North-South Divide in UK
- Health worse in north than south
- Wages lower in north than south
- Education = GCSE results better in south than Midlands or north
Give evidence to support “health is worse in north than south”
Life expectancy for male babies born in Glasgow in 2012 was 72.6 years but in East Dorset it was 82.9 years
Give evidence to support “wages are worse in north than south”
2014 average weekly wage was 40% lower in Huddersfield than London
Describe how changes in UK economy is causing changes in rural areas (2x)
- In Cumbria (rural area in north west England) = population of villages has decreased recently (especially in western Cumbria)
- In North Somerset (mainly rural area in west of England) = population of some North Somerset towns/villages have increased a lot in recent years (particularly close to Bristol)