5.1.1
Economic Activity
Types of Economic Activity
Types of Economic Activity
Economies can be classified in different ways. Different economies all have different features. Economic activity is split into four main economic sectors:
Primary economic activity
Primary economic activity
- Primary economic activity usually involves some kind of raw materials.
- Some examples of primary economic activity are farming, cutting down trees for making paper and mining (extracting things like iron ore).
- Finland is famous for its pulp (used to make paper) industry. It produces €17bn in its forestry industry each year. The company Nokia started out as a pulp mill.
Secondary economic activity
Secondary economic activity
- Secondary economic activity involves the next stage of activity after primary, usually doing something to the raw materials.
- Manufacturing the paper after the trees have been chopped down would fit in the category of secondary economic activity.
- In the UK, James Cropper in the Lake District produces paper from the raw material, pulp. This is secondary economic activity.
Tertiary economic activity
Tertiary economic activity
- Tertiary economic activity involves providing services to other people in the economy.
- Transport companies like taxi drivers, doctors working in healthcare and restaurants like Nando's are all in the tertiary sector of the economy.
Quaternary economic activity
Quaternary economic activity
- Quaternary economic activity involves services like IT software and scientific research and development.
- Pension fund/asset management companies and design consultancies may also be classified in the quaternary sector.
Economic Activity in the UK
Economic Activity in the UK
Rural and urban areas of the UK generally do different types of economic activities. There are also specific clusters of heightened economic activity that have developed.
Rural areas
Rural areas
- Rural areas usually have more primary activity in the UK.
- Agriculture usually takes place in the countryside in places like Cumbria and Somerset.
- Jobs in these places and industries are often low paid and involve manual work.
Urban areas
Urban areas
- Urban areas usually have higher proportions of secondary and tertiary activity.
- Employment in services industries makes up over 80% of all employment in the UK.
- Urban areas like London do not have much primary economic activity (e.g. mining or farming).
Specific areas/clusters
Specific areas/clusters
- Quaternary employment in the UK is concentrated in specific areas.
- In the UK, most quaternary employment happens around important universities and in the M4 corridor (London, Reading, Bristol, Bath and Cardiff).
- There are also clusters of activity around the universities of Oxford and Cambridge because there are often spillover effects that make it good for firms to locate there (e.g. access to good talented workers).
1Tectonic Processes & Hazards
1.1Tectonic Processes & Hazards
1.2Natural Disasters
1.3Natural Disaster Case Studies
1.4Trends & Patterns
2Option 2A: Glaciated Landscapes & Change
2.1Glaciated Landscapes Over Time
2.2Periglacial Landscapes
2.3Glacial Processes
2.4Glacial Landforms
3Option 2B: Coastal Landscapes & Change
3.1Coastal Landscapes
3.2Coastal Erosion & Deposition
3.3Coastal Risks
4Globalisation
4.1Globalisation
4.2Negatives of Globalisation
4.3Global Shift
4.5Culture
4.6Measuring Development
5Option 4A: Regenerating Places
5.1Types of Economies
5.2Function of Places
5.3Regeneration
5.4Regeneration Case Studies
6Option 4B: Diverse Places
6.1Population Structure
6.2Past & Present Connections
6.3Urban & Rural Spaces
6.4Diversity
6.5Urban & Rural Case Studies
6.6Case Study - Tower Hamlets
6.7Case Study - Sturton-le-Steeple
7The Water Cycle & Water Insecurity (A2 only)
7.1Hydrological Processes Global to Local
7.2Influences on the Water Cycle
7.3Water Insecurity
8The Carbon Cycle & Energy Security (A2 only)
8.1The Carbon Cycle
8.2Energy Consumption
8.3Alternative Energy
8.4Growing Demand for Resources
9Superpowers (A2 only)
9.1Superpowers
9.2Hard & Soft Power
9.2.1Hard & Soft Power
9.2.2Emerging Powers - China Rivalry
9.2.3Emerging Powers - Chinese Sources of Power
9.2.4Emerging Powers - Brazil
9.2.5Emerging Powers - Russia
9.2.6Emerging Powers - India
9.2.7Theories of Development
9.2.8Power Case Studies: Chinese One Belt One Road
9.2.9Power Case Studies: Pakistan Nuclear Arms
9.2.10Power Case Studies: OPEC
9.3IGOs, TNCs & Alliances
10Option 8A: Health & Human Rights (A2 only)
10.1Human Development
10.2Role of Governments & IGOs
10.3Human Rights
10.4Interventions
11Option 8B: Migration & Identity (A2 only)
11.1Globalisation & Migration
11.2Consequences of Migration
11.3Nation States
11.4Responses to Global Migration
Jump to other topics
1Tectonic Processes & Hazards
1.1Tectonic Processes & Hazards
1.2Natural Disasters
1.3Natural Disaster Case Studies
1.4Trends & Patterns
2Option 2A: Glaciated Landscapes & Change
2.1Glaciated Landscapes Over Time
2.2Periglacial Landscapes
2.3Glacial Processes
2.4Glacial Landforms
3Option 2B: Coastal Landscapes & Change
3.1Coastal Landscapes
3.2Coastal Erosion & Deposition
3.3Coastal Risks
4Globalisation
4.1Globalisation
4.2Negatives of Globalisation
4.3Global Shift
4.5Culture
4.6Measuring Development
5Option 4A: Regenerating Places
5.1Types of Economies
5.2Function of Places
5.3Regeneration
5.4Regeneration Case Studies
6Option 4B: Diverse Places
6.1Population Structure
6.2Past & Present Connections
6.3Urban & Rural Spaces
6.4Diversity
6.5Urban & Rural Case Studies
6.6Case Study - Tower Hamlets
6.7Case Study - Sturton-le-Steeple
7The Water Cycle & Water Insecurity (A2 only)
7.1Hydrological Processes Global to Local
7.2Influences on the Water Cycle
7.3Water Insecurity
8The Carbon Cycle & Energy Security (A2 only)
8.1The Carbon Cycle
8.2Energy Consumption
8.3Alternative Energy
8.4Growing Demand for Resources
9Superpowers (A2 only)
9.1Superpowers
9.2Hard & Soft Power
9.2.1Hard & Soft Power
9.2.2Emerging Powers - China Rivalry
9.2.3Emerging Powers - Chinese Sources of Power
9.2.4Emerging Powers - Brazil
9.2.5Emerging Powers - Russia
9.2.6Emerging Powers - India
9.2.7Theories of Development
9.2.8Power Case Studies: Chinese One Belt One Road
9.2.9Power Case Studies: Pakistan Nuclear Arms
9.2.10Power Case Studies: OPEC
9.3IGOs, TNCs & Alliances
10Option 8A: Health & Human Rights (A2 only)
10.1Human Development
10.2Role of Governments & IGOs
10.3Human Rights
10.4Interventions
11Option 8B: Migration & Identity (A2 only)
11.1Globalisation & Migration
11.2Consequences of Migration
11.3Nation States
11.4Responses to Global Migration
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