Geography U2

7/29/2019 Geography U2

1/3

UNIT 2: ECONOMIC ASPECT

Since the Industrial Revolution in the 19th century Britain changed from a basically

rural-agricultural society, to an urban-industrial one, so much so that it became the

workshop of the world. Industrys growth generated new jobs, which resulted in

internal migrations to the city. Consequences were clearly seen, as the more industrygrew, the more that towns and villages expanded.

Types of Industry

There are basically 3 types of industry:

Primary: involves the production of raw materials and food (ex: forestry)

Secondary: (=manufacturing) involves the processing and elaborating of the raw

materials obtained in the Primary industry, to make goods. (ex: furniture making)

Tertiary: (=service) though it does not produce goods, it creates wealth as well as

employment. (ex: construction, transport, etc).

A fourth type of industry has now been claimed to exist: High-Tech industry. Its

connected to computing, telephoning, etc

Mixed Economy

1/3 of Britains economy is run by the state, which means that only a small portion of it

belongs in the public sector, whereas the remaining 2/3 of the economy are owned by

the private sector. Foreign corporations control only a 10% of the economy in the UK.

Agriculture

Its an important industry that covers most of the country. Agriculture is efficient,

productive, mechanized and specialized, for which reason it provides 2/3 of Britains

food needs. Britains almost self efficient in food due to intensive factory farming.Soils vary in quality, from the thin poor ones of the highland Britain to the rich fertile

land of lowland areas in the east and south of England (Particularly in East Anglia).

The farms in southern and eastern England and eastern Scotland specialize in arable

farming and the crops they produce are: wheat (trigo); oats (avena); potatoes; sugar-beet

(remolacha) and vegetables.

Farming

Farming is the work on an area of land to grow crops and keep animals. There are

basically two main types of farming:

Arable: its the ploughing of land to grow crops and can be found in drier parts (low

rainfall). The soils it requires are the light ones such as sands and silts. As for the levelof land needed for arable farming, the gentle slopes and level land of the lowlands are

suitable.

Pastoral: it refers to the land being grazed by stock (by stock it is understood: cattle and

sheep). The grassland it requires can be found in wetter parts of the country. Steep

slopes provide pastureland for this type of farming.

Fisheries

Britain is one of the leading fishing nations in Europe, partly thanks to the rich and

varied fishlife around it. However, in recent years fishing income has declined due to

over fishing for which reason policies which restricted the freedom of fishing have been

implemented.

Two main types of fish are caught:Pelagic: (can be found near the surface) herring (arenque); pilchard (sardina).


2/3

Demersal: (can be found in the bottom) mostly white fish, such as cod (bacalao); hake

(merluza).

Lobsters can be caught in Devon and Oysters are cultivated on the Themes Estuary.

Fish farming industry is a large and expanding business concerned with salmon, trout

(trucha) and shellfish (mariscos).

ForestryBritains highly dependent upon wood imports, as nowadays little forest is left. A

Forestry Commission leads the afforestation project.

Energy

Britains main resourses are: oil, gas, nuclear power, coal (carbn) and water. Its quite

self-sufficient as regards energy supplies, though further research is needed regarding

nuclear power and alternative energies.

There are strong objections to both, coal (due to pollution and cost grounds) and nuclear

power (due to the dangerous radioactive waste).

Electricity

A small proportion of it is produced by nuclear-power stations. Alternative energiessuch as these are being looked into:

Wind (Through aero-generators. Uneasy because its subjected to the variability of

winds)

Wave power

Solar power (Impractical for UK, due to its climate)

Hydro-electricity (Examined on the Severn and Mercy Estuaries)

(SEE FIGURE ON PAGE 30)

Transport and Communications

Central and local government are responsible for road network in Britain.

Passenger mileage:

Car transport accounts for 80%

Buses and coaches: 6%

Aviation: 1%

Rail: 5%

Many railway lines and trains are old and need replacing. The modernization of railway

system would:

Ease road congestion

Satisfy demand

Improve environmentAll air companies are controlled by the Civil aviation Authority. The most important

airports are:

Heathrow (London): worlds leading international airport. It

generates a large structure of employment in Britain.

Gatwick (outside London): Britains second largest airport.

Manchester.

Britain invests less in transport than any other European country. This is one of the

main reasons for its lack of improvement as to the transport system.

The Channel TunnelAlso Eurochannel. Its privately run by a French and British private company, and


3/3

was originally opened for commercial use in 1994. It was meant to improve passenger

and freight rail travel between Britain and Europe.

Communications

British Telecom (privatized) provides telecommunication systems domestically and

internationally.The Postoffice is still a state industry which holds a monopoly on collection and

delivery of letters. However, its nowadays got fierce competitors such as the e-mail and

telecommunication industry.

The Commonwealth

Family of Nations. Its a voluntary association of 53 independent states. Its got no

written laws. The British monarch is its non-political unifying head and holds a

symbolic function. The secretariat is in London.

European Union (EU)

In 1957 6 countries (not UK) signed the treaty of Rome and formed theEuropean Economic Community (EEC).

In 1972 UK joined EEC.

Today 60% of British exports go to EU.

EEC became EC by means of the Maastric treaty (it provided a common

European currency: Euro; a European bank and common policies).

EU is run by various institutions: E. Council; Council of ministers; E.

Parliament; E.Court of Justice; etc.

NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization)

Treaty signed in 1949 Purpose: enhance the stability, well being and freedom of its members by

means of a system of collective security.

Many western countries saw Soviet Socialist Republics as threatening to

their sability and peace.

Highest authority: North Atlantic Council (composed of delegates and a

secretary general).

Divided into Committees.

NATO forces actively support the UN peace-keeping mission.

Documents

Geography U2