UK Flashcards
Define ‘primary sector’
Extracting a raw material e.g. mining or farming
Define ‘secondary sector’
Manufacturing e.g. ship building, car making
Define ‘tertiary sector’
Providing a service e.g. teacher, shop keeper
Define ‘quaternary sector’
High tech, knowledge and skills based jobs e.g. IT, research and development
How has the UK’s economic structure changed?
- Increasing numbers employed in tertiary (Services)
- Less employed in primary and secondary
- Increasing number employed in quaternary
What has caused the UK’s change in economy?
- The Industrial Revolution of the 19th century led to the increase in manufacturing
- Deindustrialization led to the decline of manufacturing as it shifted to Asia
- Globalisation - led to the increase in quaternary sector and decline in manufacturing in some HICs
Define globalisation
The increasing interconnections between places around the world, made possible by developments in transport, technology. It leads to the increased movement of goods, services and people around the world.
Define deindustrialisation
The loss of a country’s manufacturing industry caused by overseas competition or loss of raw materials.
What government policies have shaped the UK’s economy?
- 1945-79: Government supported failing industries. A period of strikes and power cuts
- 1979-2010: Government privatised businesses to create more competition. Old industrial land was changed into new retail parks
- 2010+ : Government aimed to rebalance the economy. They did this by encouraging new businesses through investment in manufacturing and improving infrastructure.
What is the post industrial economy?
The growth in the tertiary and quaternary sectors that followed the decline of manufacturing industries
How has IT led to the development of a post-industrial economy?
- lots of data and information can be stored and shared
- instant communication around the world
- broadband in more remote areas connects more places
- smart phones allow people to work from home
Name some jobs in the service sector in the UK
Finance, banking, insurance, security
Name some of the UK’s research industries?
- Universities
- Ministry of Defence
- NHS
- Charities e.g. Cancer Research
Why is the research industry important to the UK economy?
- Lots of highly skilled workers
- Contributes large amount to the economy
- Growing industry which opens new business opportunities
What is a science park?
A group of scientific and technical knowledge-based businesses located on one site.
Why are science parks important to the UK?
- They support tertiary industries such as finance and research
- Employ large amount of people (75,000 across 100 sites)
- Employs skilled graduates
What is a business park?
An area of land comprising of a selection of businesses usually located on the edges of towns.
Why are businesses parks located on the outskirts of towns/cities?
- Close to transport links
- Land is often cheaper to build on
- More land available to expand the business park later
- Businesses can collaborate
What impact does the car industry have on the physical environment?
- Creates air pollution contributing to climate change and breathing problems
- Large amounts of plastic waste created
- Manufacturing cars uses a lot of energy
- Most cars use petrol to run which increases demand for oil drilling
What has the car industry done to be more sustainable?
- Move towards electric cars e.g. Nissan Leaf
- Reduce the waste going to landfill
- Use less water and energy in production has reduced Nissan, Sunderland now only produces electric cars.
Name the case study example of a place experiencing rural population decline
Outer Hebrides
Name the case study example of a place experiencing rural population growth
South Cambridgeshire
Why is South Cambridgeshire’s population growing?
Lots of migrants from Eastern Europe
What are the social impacts of population growth in South Cambridgeshire?
- Increased car ownership is causing more traffic congestion
- Decline in use of services as commuters use facilities in the city
- loss of community spirit in the rural areas
- young people driven out due to high cost of living
What are the economic impacts of population growth in South Cambridgeshire?
- loss of employment in farming
- lack of affordable housing
- increasing numbers of poor migrants which puts strain on services
Why is the Outer Hebrides population declining?
Isolated location, lack of job opportunities for young
What are the social impacts of population decline in the Outer Hebrides?
- number of school children will fall
- fewer people of working age left
- increasing ageing population puts strain on area
What are the economic impacts of population decline in the Outer Hebrides?
- loss of fishing industry
- farming jobs don’t offer full time employment
- increasing levels of tourism has meant the area can’t cope with the high levels of visitors
How have the UK’s roads been improved?
- South-west super highway
- Extra lanes added to motorways
- Development of smart motorways
How have the UK’s railways been improved?
- Making railways electric
- Development of High Speed 2 (HS2) - connecting South with Northern cities
- London’s Crossrail
What is the purpose of the road and rail improvements in the UK?
- Boost regional growth in declining areas Increase employment (better infrastructure attracts businesses)
- Reduces congestion and pollution
- Reduce travel time
- Connects Southern and Northern Cities
How have the UK’s ports been improved?
Liverpool2 - doubling the ports capacity to trade.
How have the UK’s airports been improved?
Expanding Heathrow - building extra terminal and increase runways
What is the purpose of the port improvements in the UK?
- Increase trading opportunities
- Reduce the amount of freight on the roads
- Create jobs
What is the purpose of the airport improvements in the UK?
- Creates jobs
- Boosts the economy
- Supports local businesses
What is the North-South divide?
The divide between the North and the South of England. Generally, the South earn higher incomes, have a better of standard of living compared with the North
What is the evidence for the North - South divide?
- Wages are generally lower in the North
- Health is generally worse in the North
- Exam results are generally worse in the North
Why is there a north - south divide?
- North was prosperous during Industrial Revolution.
- The North was impacted heavily after heavy industries, such as ship building and mining, declined after 1970s.
- The South adapted and developed a strong service industry due to its proximity to the capital.
How is the government trying to reduce the north - south divide?
- Devolving power
- Creating Enterprise Zones
- Northern Powerhouse - a government plan to attract investment to the North
- Improving infrastructure (HS2, improving motorways)
How does ‘devolving power’ to local councils help to close the north - south divide?
Giving councils the power to choose how they spend money to best suit the needs of the area. e.g. transport or regeneration.
How does the creation of ‘enterprise zones’ help to close north - south divide?
Enterprise zones offer incentives to businesses that locate there, e.g. reduced taxes, access to good infrastructure, less planning restrictions - this encourages more businesses to the area, reducing unemployment.
What is the Northern Powerhouse? How does it close the north - south divide?
It is a government plan to focus on improving the north of England. It includes specific plans to encourage more investment in the North and improved transport to connect it to the South.
In what ways is the UK connected to other countries?
- Trade - the UK trades with the USA, Asia and Europe
- Culture - British TV shows are shown worldwide
- Transport - the UK is well connected by the Channel tunnel, rail and airports
- Electronic communications - most internet and phone cables connect USA to Europe via UK.
- EU - being a member of the EU allows the UK to freely trade with other EU countries
- Commonwealth - the UK is part of the commonwealth with aims to improve the well being of other Commonwealth countries.
