External forces and factors influencing economic restructuring Flashcards
Unit 1- Changing Places
Define the reasons for the Decline in Primary Employment in Mining and Agriculture
- Depletion of resources
- Cheap imports
- Mechanisation
- Social change and value of primary industry
- Government policy
Define the reasons for the Decline in Secondary Employment in Manufacturing
- Globalisation
- Cheaper production in developing countries
- Mechanisation
- Government Policies
How many men were employed in coal mining pits across Britain at its peak in the 1920’s?
1.2 million
Define some key takeaways from the British coal industry.
Coal became cheaper to import from other countries making the UK less competitive. In 2012, 96% of our imported coal came from just 3 countries: USA, Russia, and Columbia.
Explain the government policy of the British coal industry.
6th March 1984- Margaret Thatcher.
- Conservative Government.
- Announced they intended to close 20 coal mines
- Loss of 20,000 jobs
- Many communities in North England as well as Scotland and Wales would lose their primary source of employment
- This led to the infamous miners’ strike of 1984.
What is a social attitude to coal that has further added to its decline?
- Increasing concert about greenhouse gas emissions and global warming- coal is being seen as a dirty fuel
- For every Megawatt hour of electricity produced, coal emits over 850kg of CO2 in contrast natural gas releases just 500kg.
- Countries such as the UK had legally blinding CO2 emission targets set by climate conferences such as Kyoto in 1997.
- The UK subsequently shut many coal fired power stations: The UK currently has 10 coal fired power stations left- 4 have closed between 2015 and 2016, including locally at ironbridge.
State a social attitude coal has further added to its decline.
- the development of cleaner renewable alternative energy sources such as wind power, has further aided the decline
- The UK has the world’s largest wind farm: The London Array, opened in July 2013 it is capable of powering over 500,000 homes.
- 8th June 2017 the UK produces more electricity from renewables than coal and gas for the first time.
Explain the percentage change of workers in the Agricultural industry in 1841 and 2011.
- In 1841, one in five workers (22%) were in the agricultural industry.
- In 2011, less than one in a hundred employed people (1%), worked in this industry.
External Forces and Factors contributing to the decline of British industry (factors outside of Britain).
External factors
- Globalisation
- Multi-National Companies
- New Production Technology
Internal Forces and Factors contributing to the Decline of British Industry (factors inside of Britain).
- Loss of competitiveness
- Lack of investment and financial factors
- Human resource issues
Give an example of De-industrialisation in the Uk.
Longbridge car factory, Birmingham that closed in 2005 with the loss of over 6,000 jobs.
MNCs have comparative advantages over MEDC countries due to..
- Much lower labour costs
- Fewer employment laws/ regulations
- Hard working and often well-educated workforces
- Cheaper land/factory construction costs
- Relaxed environmental controls where pollution is less restricted
- Government incentives such as the development of free ports and export processing (pay £ on profit) zones, where companies could operate with low levels of taxation- decreasing cost.
What are the benefits of increasing car manufacturing technology- increase in robotisation?
- Can work 24/7.
- No labour costs- cheaper in the long run.
- No holiday/ sick pay- cheaper.
- Consistent quality
- Meet production orders and therefore increase outputs.
What issues might a factory have being located in the inner city?
- Lack of transport to transport goods e.t.c.
There are only motorways. - People nearby (noise pollution)
- Victorian streets- hard to get in and out.
- Factories outdated- will cost a lot to update them
