Clasifications
- Primary Industry: Extracting raw materials (fishing, mining, farming).
- Secondary Industry: Manufacturing & construction (making things).
- Tertiary Industry: Service provision ( teachers, bankers).
- Quaternary Industry: Research & Development
(high-tech, I.T. & pharmaceutical).
The proportions of each of the sections that make up a total economy is known as the employment structure.
LEDCs
- Typically have large primary industries & low manufacturing/tertiary & quaternary industries.
- Primary industries require labour but little capital investment and low educational levels.
- Primary product can generate export earnings.
- Setting up manufacturing & services requires large capital investment and a skilled labour force.
MEDCs
- Tend to have small primary sectors & larger secondary & tertiary industries.
- Primary industries are highly mechanised and require a very small labour force.
- Raw materials are often imported for manufacturing.
- Services have become increasingly important as the IT sector has grown..
Decentralisation of Industry
Many industries in MEDCs have become much more geographically mobile. They can locate in a range of places since they are less dependent on raw materials and more dependent on skilled labour.
Many offices and ICT software and hardware companies locate on the edges of urban areas in much more pleasant surroundings. A similar trend has occured with the retail sector as shopping malls in increasingly common in the suburbs of large urban areas.
These locations are often cheaper, have plenty of space for parking and are closer to the workers/customers homes.
Acid Rain
Links
Interactive graphic comparing the carbon footprints of Innocent & Coke
chocolate consumption by brand
Case Studies
Manufacturing------------------ Secondary Industry----------------------------Nissan
Location: Sunderland, N.E England.
Reason: skilled labour force & high unemployment. Lots of flat land at a low cost (need land for factory, testing & storing cars).
Transport links: A1 motorway linking to London. Close to port to export to Europe. Near Newcastle airport.
Incentives: Government grants & tax reductions for first few years. Ancillary firms located close by.
High-tech Industry---------------Tertiary Industry---------------------M4 Corridor
Location: Along M4 motorway (London-Bristol), Southern England.
Reasons:
- Close to Heathrow (international airport) - import/export & travel.
- Large market close by (London). M4 is excellent road link to London, Oxford, Bristol.
- Close to Oxford University (bright graduates & research facilities).
- Attractive environment which attracts workers (Cotswolds, Chilterns).
- Proximity to similar industries for sharing ideas & integration.
- 2010 News article about M4 corridor
