Economic futures in the UK Flashcards
1
Q
Stages of economic change in the UK
A
- Pre-industrial stage: most people worked in the primary sector, such as farming or mining
- Industrial stage: most people moved into the secondary sector, factories and manufacturing
- Post-industrial stage: transition to the tertiary and quarternary sector of IT and research
2
Q
Main causes for economic change in the UK
A
- De-industrialisation saw the decline in the UKs manufacturing sector (secondary jobs) and shift to the tertiary and quarternary sector
- Globalisation and increased world trade further contributed to the decline in manufacturing. Businesses moved abroad to capitalise on lower tax rates
- Government policy changes
3
Q
What caused the UK’s post-industrial economy and what is it like?
A
- Manufacturing sector declined and caused an increase in tertirary and quarternary sectors
- Development of IT - UK is one of the world’s leading digital economy
- The service industry (tertiary) contributes to 85% of the UKs economy
- UK is the worlds leading centre for financial services
- Research and development: contributes £13 billion to the economy
- Science parks: employs over 120000 people
- Business parks: businesses can benefit from collaboration
4
Q
Impacts of industry on the environment in the UK
A
- Landscapes are scarred by ugly derelict buildings
- Gas and soot emissions from burning coal pollutes the air
- Industrial waste can cause land, water and air pollution
- Transport of raw material increases levels of pollution
5
Q
Social and economic change in rural areas in the UK
A
- Rural areas in the Uk are undergoing change
- Areas are seeing their population decline as people move away to seek jobs elsewhere
- Areas clost to thriving cities are experiencing population growth
6
Q
How are industry and transport linked?
A
- Industries need good transport networks to move goods and services
- Industries are “pulled” to areas with good transport networks which attracts employment
7
Q
Improvement to roads in the UK
A
- The 2014 road investment stratehy has lead to:
- 100 new road schemes
- 1300 new lane miles added to motorways
- Extra lanes added to turn main motorways into smart motorways which helps reduce congestion
- These schemes will create jobs and boost local economies
8
Q
Improvements to railways in the UK
A
- Development of the UK’s railways aims to ease congestion
- Planned improvements:
- Improve connections between major cities
- London crossrail project involved 32km of new line beneat central London
- High speed 2: high speed route to connect London to Birmingham, Manchester, Leeds and Sheffield. Delayed due to costs and disputes
9
Q
Improvements to ports in the UK
A
- Largest port industry in Europe
- 95% of the UKs imports and exports enter and leave via a port
- Rouhly 32 million passengers travel through UKs port each year
- Ports employ 120,000 people
- Liverpool 2 project: created 1000s of jobs, boosted the regional economy and reduced freight traffic on the road
10
Q
Improvements to airports in the UK
A
- Airports account for 3.4% of the UKs GDP
- Creates vital global links
- Airports handled 200 million passengers and 750,000 departures a year
- Provide 1000s of direct and indirect jobs
- Heathrow expansionL propsed 3rd runway will cost £19 billion and is predicted to create lots of new jobs
11
Q
What is the UK North-South divide?
A
- Refers to the political, regional and economical gap between the North and South of the England
- The divide highlights disparties in wealth between the Nortn and South of the UK
- Before government policies, the North was looked as inferior than the South
12
Q
What has caused the UK North-South divide?
A
- Aggressive deindustrialisation and privatisation has caused unemployment, strikes and rising costs for people who lived in the North
- The South is a region of conservative politics with London as the dominant centre which has increased income and value of property compared to the North
- The North was generally an area of Labour politices and traditional manufacturing industries
13
Q
Strategies to close the UK North-South divide
A
- Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs): voluntary partnerships between local authoraties and businesses. Companies are encourage to invest in order to boost the local economy and create jobs
- Enterprise Znes (EZs): areas encourage new businesses and jobs in areas with a low amount of pre-existing economic activity. The government suports businesses in EZs by providing a business rate discount on rent and taxes
- The Northern powerhouse strategy: improveing the local economy by investing in skills, innovation, transport and cultrue
- HS2 speed rail: aims to connect London to Birmingham, Leeds and Manchester. Will help in reducing travel time and therby improving business links
- Liverpool 2: a new port to double to port’s capacity which will create thousands of jobs in the North
14
Q
UK connections with the wider world
A
- Trade: the UK trades with many countries by sea, air, road and rail
- Transport: London Heathrow is one of the busiest airports in the world
- Electronic communication: the internet is increasingly important
- Culture: TV is one of UK’s major creative industry, work £1.25 billion
15
Q
UK links with the EU
A
- EU has 28 member countries
- It is an important traing and political influence
- Many in UK feel that the EU is too influential
- Whilst the UK was part of the EU, it benefitted from:
- Financial support
- Goods, services and labour
- Hundred of thousands of migrants from poorer countries
- The European Structural Fund
