European Economic GeographyMr. Broughman

Monday, January 6, 2014

Communism vs. Capitalism

What do you think these propaganda pictures

are trying to say about communism?

Changing Economies in Eastern Europe

• The largest communist country in Eastern Europe until its break-up in the late-1980s and early-1990s was the Soviet Union (USSR). The Soviet Union included all of modern-day Russia and many other countries such as Estonia, Ukraine, and Belarus.

• Until the early-1990s, most countries in Eastern Europe were under the control of communist governments.

• What are some of the characteristics of communist governments?– Government-control of markets and business– No major differences between people in terms of wealth

• In Eastern Europe in recent years, the shift from communist economies to capitalist economies has been prevalent.

The European Union• In the 1990s, the European Union was created to make

Europe into a single trading community. Much like NAFTA in North America, the EU seeks to eliminate tariffs and other trade barriers because trade is as important to European economies as anything.

• The countries of Europe are very closely tied together through economics. Many countries use the Euro as their form of currency. The countries of Europe are interdependent, meaning that they rely upon one another.

• The European Union at first included the democratic countries of Western Europe, but has looked to bring on countries in Eastern Europe that want to become democratic and change to free-market/capitalist economies.

Industrial Revolution• The Industrial Revolution occurred in western

Europe in the mid-1700s, and Europe is the birthplace of industrialization.

• Today’s industries in Europe have grown due to large supplies of coal and mineral ore.

• These mineral deposits can be found mostly in the Ruhr Valley of Germany and the Po Valley of Italy.

• Due to their vast mineral supplies, which countries are leaders in manufacturing?– (1) United Kingdom– (2) France– (3) Italy– (4) Germany

Employment in Europe

• Since Europe is fairly industrialized and modernized, the workforce is generally well-educated. This leads to many people, roughly 60%, working in the service sector.

• In Switzerland, many people work in the banking industry as Switzerland is home to many of the world’s largest international banks.

• Much of Europe’s economy is also based upon tourism, especially to major cities and mountainous regions.

Agriculture in Europe• Agricultural in Europe differs depending on location. In

Albania, about 50% of people are farmers, while in the United Kingdom only about 2% are farmers.

• What are some major agricultural products of Europe?– 1. Olives, dates, grapes, and citrus in warmer Mediterranean

climates– 2. Wheat and rye in the Northern European Plain– 3. Dairy products in the Low Countries (Netherlands and

Belgium)– 4. Fish in Scandinavia– 5. Beef Livestock in Western Europe (United Kingdom)

• European economies use advanced farm technologies such as mixed farming (growing different crops on the same farm) and have high crop yields due to modern equipment and fertilizers.

• Eastern Europe has very fertile, dark, black soils called chernozem that is good for growing wheat-style crops.

Transportation

• In Europe, rivers and canals serve as major transportation links between places for both people and goods. Rivers such as the Rhine and Danube Rivers provide access to seas like the North and Black Seas.

• The Chunnel is a tunnel that runs beneath the English Tunnel between the United Kingdom and France. It opened in 1994 and carries both goods and passengers through a series of tubes on trains.

Environmental Problems

• Many places in Europe are threatened by air and water pollution and environmental degradation.– (1) the Black Forest of Germany due to acid rain– (2) cities like Venice in Italy due to water pollution– (3) polluted rivers due to industrialization like the

Rhine, Seine, and Danube.

• Large oil reserves in the North Sea near Scandinavia have raised fears of oil spills.