United kingdom Flashcards
Changing economic world
How did the UK’s industrial sector change from the 20th century
The primary sector e.g mining, agriculture, fishing declined due to increase in machinery
Manufacturing sector decreased due to competition from abroad
Service sector increased due to expansion in public services and finance
3 main causes of economic change in UK
Deindustrialisation
Globalisation
Government policies
Deindustrialisation
The decline in heavy industries which produced raw materials e.g coal to manufacture iron or steel for shipbuilding
Northeast England heavily depended on manufacturing.
The closure of coal mines in 1970s left unemployment, low income in these regions
Globalisation
Globalization, driven by advances in communications, technology, and trade groups like the EU, has reshaped the global economy with the rise of TNCs and rapid growth in Asia. The UK now focuses on the service sector (finance, research, media, education) and the quaternary sector. Government policies have adapted through:
How global policies have changed UK economy
- 1945-79: State-run industries (e.g., British Steel Corporation) supported declining heavy industries but faced closures and unrest due to outdated practices.
- 1979-2010: Privatization and investment transformed industrial areas (e.g., London Docklands into Canary Wharf) as the service sector grew.
- 2010 onwards: Rebalancing the economy via high-tech manufacturing (e.g., aerospace, computer engineering), infrastructure investment (e.g., Crossrail, HS2), and support for small businesses.
How is the UK post industrial economy characterised
Shift into technology based services
How technology effects peoples lives
Computers store lots of information quickly
Mobile devices mean any information can be accessed at any time
Communication using satellite
Uk is recognised as one of the top IT countries in the world attracting business and investment
Internet allows people to work from home/be self employed
Uk is home to over 1.3million people who work in the IT sector
More specialist manufacturing due to new technology (efficient)
Describe the UK’s service industry
Largest UK sector
Financial sector employs over 2 million people + contributes to 10% of UK’s GDP
Effect of research on economy
It employs over 60,000 highly educated people and contributes
£3 billion to the UK economy.
◦ Much research is linked to UK universities such as Oxford, Cambridge and Manchester and involves the biomedical, computer, environmental and aerospace sectors.
◦ Research is conducted by both government bodies (such as the National Health Service, the Ministry of Defence and the Environment Agency) and private organisations, such as pharmaceutical companies.
define growth corridor
area of country where economy is growing, often along a major transport route linking two or more cities
how does the M4 corridor contribute to the economy
The M4 corridor, from London to Bristol, has become home to hi-tech industry over the past thirty years. Many well-known companies. like Microsoft, Sony and Vodaphone, are based there, usually in modern, out-of-town business parks. It is estimated that the M4 corridor produces 8% of the UK’s economic output, as much as Manchester and Birmingham combined.
Cambridge science park benefits
- Uk’s major hub for hi tech industry
-1500 bio technology companies
-7250 employees - 80km North of London + along M11
- Excellent health facilities e.g Adenbrooke hospital + investment in local transport
- Other jobs on site e.g security + cafe
-£46 million investment in new biomedical centre next to science park - 12 biomedical companies involved in therapeuticcs - drugs + immunatherapies
- Abcam company sells 100,000 antibody products over 140 counties
Cambridge science park disadvantages
House prices are rising due to rising demand to live in area
Cambridge is increasingly congested with traffic and pedestrians.
Rail and road links can’t cope with demands fast enough
What are business parks
Business parks usually involve a group of small businesses on a singie plot ofland. There are hundreds of business parks in the UK, usually located on the edges of towns and cities where land is relatively cheap and there are good road communications.
They can involve retailing and small-scale manufacturing, as well as research and development. In supplying goods and services, they often benefit from close association with each other (e.g. a printing company providing print materials for other companies in the business park).
Impacts of industry on environement
Industrial processes often release chemicals in the air - sulphur/nitrogen oxides - health issues
Factories/mines/quarries destroy physical landscape - habitats
Transporting raw materials produces lots of air pollution - CO2, NO2
Industrial processes use lots of energy = climate change
Waste often goes to landfill = release toxins into soil + methane
Local water systems polluted with toxins
Example of car industry can be more sustainable
Each year in Uk the car industry manufactures over 1.5 million cars:
Nissan car plant, Sunderland
Nissan employs 7,000 people in its car plant at Sunderland. Opened in 1986, it produces over 500,000 cars each year. It is highly efficient in the following ways:
◦ The car plant obtains 7 per cent of its energy from wind turbines.
◦ New car models are designed to be much more fuel efficient and have tighter restrictions on exhaust gas emissions.
◦ The Nissan Leaf is an electric car. Other cars are hybrids’, using a mixture of petrol and electricity.
◦ Cars are designed using materials that can be readily recycled, reducing waste going to landfill sites.
Example of more sustainable quarrying
Torr Quarry, Somerset
Torr Quarry is a limestone quarry in the Mendip Hills, south of Bristol. It employs over 100 people and contributes around £15 million to the economy each year. Limestone chippings produced at the quarry are mostly used in the construction industry. The quarry is environmentally sustainable in the following ways:
◦ Chippings are transported by rail rather than road to minimise the environmental impact.
◦ There is regular monitoring of water quality, airborne emissions and noise.
◦ Some 80 hectares of the site have already been restored, with grass and trees.
◦ Future restoration will include the creation of lakes for wildlife and recreation.
Example area for social + economic changes in area of population growth
South Cambridgeshire
- expected population rise from 150,0000 to 175 000 by 2026
Example area for social and economic changes in area of population decline
Outer Hebrides - north west scotland
- 50% populationd ecline since 1901
Current population of 27,000 most of whom live on island of Lewis
Social changes in south cambridgeshire
Rising house prices (reflecting greater demand) and modern developments in villages can cause tensions with local people.
◦ If a village has a high proportion of commuters it can become very dead during the day and lose its sense of community and identity.
◦ Car-owning commuters do not need public transpor and services may be reduced, affecting local people.
◦ Resentment may be felt towards migrants in the community.
Economic changes in south cambridgeshire
Lack of affordable housing for local people.
◦ Some shops may be forced to close if commuters do not use their local village shops. Others may thrive if they offer services in the evenings and at weekends.
◦ Sale of agricultural land can reduce farm employment, which may lead to some local unemployment.
◦ Fuel prices - and shop prices - tend to be higher than elsewhere in the area due to high demand.
◦ The influx of poor migrants can put economic pressures on social services.
social changes in outer hebrides scotland
The out-migration of young people has resulted in an increasingly ageing population.
◦ An ageing population will require increasing amounts of care, which will have social and economic impacts.
◦ Fewer people of working age in the area could result in further decline in farming and fishing.
◦ Fewer children could result in school closures.
economic changes in outer hebrides scotalnd
Maintaining ferries and other services is costly - some post offices have had to close.
◦ Traditional fishing for prawns and lobsters has declined, with just a few boats left.
◦ Shellfish production has increased, mostly involving foreign boats.
◦ Tourism has become an important economic activity but the infrastructure is struggling to cope with the number of visitors.
Uk road development
In 2014, the government launched a £15 billion
‘Road Improvement Strategy’ to improve road condition and capacity:
◦ Many stretches of busy motorway are being converted into ‘smart motorways’, enabling traffic flow to be controlled to reduce congestion.
◦ Over 100 new road schemes by 2020.
◦ Over 1,600 kilometres of new lanes will be added to busy motorways and major roads such as the heavily congested A303 in southwest England
Uk railway development
London’s Crossrail - due for completion in 2018, this £15 billion project, involving 32 kilometres of new lines bored beneath central London, will improve east-west connections across London and reduce commuting times
◦ electrification of the Trans-Pennine Railway - due for completion in 2020, this will improve connections between Manchester and York and will complete rail electrification between Liverpool and Newcastle
◦ High Speed 2 (HS2) - this £50 billion project involves constructing a high-speed rail line between London and Birmingham and then onwards to Manchester, Leeds and Sheffield. The route of the new line is controversial, particularly where it runs close to settlements or through highly valued countryside. Construction is due to start in 2017.
Uk port development
The UK has always been a trading nation, importing and exporting goods through its many thriving large ports such as London, Liverpool, Grimsby and Southampton (Figure 19.6). The UK’s port industry is the largest in Europe, employing 120,000 people and handling 32 million passengers a year
Uk aircraft development
Heathrow, the UK’s largest airport, handles over 70 million passengers annually. In 2016, the government approved a third runway to ease congestion and allow expansion. This controversial decision will impact local communities, including property demolitions, but is expected to create jobs and boost the local economy. The project is estimated to cost over £18.6 billion, with strict environmental requirements to limit emissions and noise. To minimize disruption to the M25, the runway may be built on a ramp over the motorway.
Airports account for 3.6 per cent of the UK’s gross domestic product
(GDP) and are extremely important to the UK’s economic development, providing thousands of jobs and boosting local economies. Over 2 million tonnes of freight pass through the UK’s airports each year and 750,000 flights depart from the UK. The UK’s airports handle close to
200 million passengers a year.
Benefits of HS2
◦ It will create thousands of jobs in the Midlands and northern England.
◦ It is estimated HS2 will help to generate £40 billion for the UK economy.
◦ It will increase the number of rail passengers and make transport more sustainable.
◦ It will also reduce the number of people who fly between UK cities.
◦ It will be a faster way to travel between cities.
◦ It will be carbon-neutral because it will reduce journeys that use other transport.
Negatives of HS2
◦ It is more likely to create jobs in London and people will commute there instead.
◦ The cost of HS2 is estimated at £42
billion and it is difficult to predict how much money it will generate.
◦ Existing rail routes could be improved to increase the number of passengers.
◦ The number of people flying within the UK is already falling.
◦ People don’t want to travel any faster.
Intercity routes are already fast.
It will increase carbon emissions because high-speed trains use more power.
What is the north south divide
The term north-south divide has been used to describe the cultural and economic disparities between the south of England - particularly London and the Southeast - and the rest of the UK:
◦ People living in the south tend to have higher incomes, longer life expectancy and a generally higher standard of living than those living in the north.
◦ High demand for housing in the south means that house prices are higher than in the north.
◦ In the north, unemployment rates are higher than in the south as areas continue to adjust to deindustrialisation.
What caused the north south divide
The main cause of the north-south divide is deindustrialisation, as traditional manufacturing industries, often based on raw materials such as coal, were largely based in the north - Yorkshire and Northeast England
- as well as in South Wales. As the northern economy declined, the economy of the south grew rapidly in response to the growth of the service sector and the dominance of London, particularly in financial services. This growth boosted average incomes and increased the value of property.
What strategies are being used to address the north south divide
Government incentive packages (reduced taxes, site development, and so on) have been used to attract Transnational Corporations (TNCs) to locate manufacturing plants, such as Mitsubishi near Edinburgh (1975) and Nissan in Washington, Tyne and Wear (1984).
◦ Enterprise Zones - government incentives (such as discounted rates, provision of superfast broadband and simplified planning regulations) encourage new businesses to set up in deprived areas. Twenty-four Enterprise Zones have been designated since 2011.
◦ Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs) - these are voluntary partnerships between local authorities and businesses aimed at encouraging investment and boosting the local economy. For example, the Lancashire LEP is focusing development on the aerospace and technical engineering sector and aims to create 50,000 high-skilled jobs by 2023.
The northern powerhouse initiative
How will the northern The Northern Powerhouse initiative aims to boost the local economy in the North of England by investing in skills, innovation, transport, and culture, with devolved powers to local mayors. It focuses on linking core cities like Liverpool, Leeds, Manchester, Sheffield, Hull, and Newcastle to rival the economic strength of London and the South East.
1. Improving transport links: Motorway developments and railway improvements like HS2.
2. Investing in science and innovation: Examples include Newcastle Science Central.
3. Devolving government powers: Transferring decision-making from London to northern cities.
Devolution involves granting local authorities more spending autonomy, exemplified by the Mayor of Greater Manchester receiving £1 billion for city improvements. Relocating businesses, such as the BBC’s move to MediaCityUK in Manchester in 2011, also supports this initiative.
The Uk’s trade links with the wider world
The UK trades with many countries by sea, air, road and rail (Channel Tunnel).
* The UK’s main trading partners are the EU (particularly Germany, France and the Netherlands), the USA and China. Germany is the main source for imports and the USA the main destination for exports.
The Uk’s transport links with the wider world
The UK’s long trading heritage has resulted in the development of major ports and airports, such as Heathrow and Gatwick.
* There are links to mainland Europe via the Channel Tunnel, with fast rail services via the Eurostar
Ships transport people to Europe and the rest of the world from ports such as Southampton and Dover.
The Uk’s electronic communication links with wider world
The internet is an increasingly important aspect of global communications - by 2014, 40% of the world’s population had access to the internet (90% in the UK).
* The UK is an important hub for the global network of submarine cables linking Europe with the USA.
* Submarine cables are responsible for transmitting 99% of all internet traffic.
* The Arctic Fibre project
- due for completion in
2016 - involves 15,000 kilometres of cables linking London with Tokyo.
The Uk’s culture links with the wider world
- Television is one of the UK’s major creative industries, worth over £1.25 billion a year.
Programmes such as Dr Who, Downton Abbey and Sherlock are highly successful exports. - Fashion, music and films are important exports, especially to the English-speaking world.
- Migrants to the UK have introduced their own cultural characteristics (foods, fashion, films and festivals).
Uk’s political, economic links with EU
The UK joined the EU in 1973, becoming part of a 28-country bloc with significant global economic and political influence. In 2016, a referendum led to the decision to leave the EU (“Brexit”), scheduled for 2019.
EU membership benefits the UK through:
* Free movement: Goods, services, capital, and labor can move freely between member countries.
* European funds: Support regional development via funds like the European Structural Fund.
* Labor influx: Many people from Eastern Europe have come to the UK for work.
* Single Payment Scheme: Supports farmers and benefits the environment (e.g., £18 million to dairy farmers in 2015).
* EU laws: Affect working practices, product standards, safety, consumer rights, and environmental guidelines.
Uk’s political, economic links with common wealth
The UK has strong ties with its former colonies through the Commonwealth, a voluntary group of over 50 countries. The Commonwealth aims to support its members and foster cooperation, with leaders meeting every two years to discuss important issues and promote sustainable development.
Many people of British descent reside in Commonwealth countries like Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. Simultaneously, people from Commonwealth nations such as India, Bangladesh, Nigeria, and Caribbean countries have migrated to the UK. This movement has created strong cultural, trade, and business links between the UK and other Commonwealth countries.
