UK - the North South divide

Question 1

reasons for the divide

Answer 1

• centralisation -> big cities like London are prioritized
• decline of Northern regions from the 1980s onwards (industry there lost its importance)

Question 2

aspects (of life)

Answer 2

decrease of life quality
- less job opportunities
- risk of poverty
- lack of sufficient public transportation // infrastructure is deteriorating

prospects in life might be affected (education!!)

Question 3

ideas to improve the situation

Answer 3

• government should set up programmes
• level up opportunities // strengthen equality
• increase job opportunities
• stimulate wage growth
• improve education & infrastructure

Question 4

aspects of economic division

Answer 4

1. productivity
2. most productive sectors are located in the South (e.g. finance & tech)
3. jobs

Question 5

productivity

aspects of economic division

Answer 5

London is producing goods & services worth 26.000 pounds more per head than the north

Question 6

jobs

aspects of economic division

Answer 6

big cities vs the rest
- job growth concentrated in large urban areas, however: regional divide does exist
- unemployement rate in the South- West < Northern Ireland)

Question 7

A revival of the North?

Answer 7

• “Northshoring”: businesses are attracted to the North (lower wages, lots of young people)
• foreign investments, e.g. by Japanese companies
• some industries saw great breakthroughs, e.g in cancer research-> boom
• strong local bonds / regional pride -> small-scale production sites in traditional sectors (e.g. textile industry) by local companies