THE NORTH-SOUTH DIVIDE

THE UK ECONOMY STRUCTURE

Agriculture is intensive, highly mechanised, and efficient by European standards, producing about 60% of food needs,^] with less than 1.6% of the labour force. Farm products make 0.5% GDP. 2/3 livestock 1/3 arable crops. Agriculture is subsidised by the European Union's Common Agricultural Policy.

The UK retains a significant, though reduced, fishing industry. Its fleets, based in towns such as Kingston upon Hull, Grimsby, Fleetwood, Newlyn, Peterhead, and Lowestoft, bring home fish ranging from sole to herring.

Construction It is the fastest growing sector of the economy after the 2010 Recession.

The United Kingdom is expected to launch the building of new nuclear reactors to replace existing generators and to boost UK's energy reserves.

The aerospace industry of the UK is the second-largest national aerospace industry, BAE largest defence contractor Rolls-Royce aircraft engine maker.

Finance and banking – London stock exchange, Lloyds of London, the Bank of England.

Tourism!!!

In 2009 the UK was the 13th largest producer of natural gas in the world and the largest producer in the EU. Production is now in decline and the UK has been a net importer of natural gas since 2004.

The service sector is the dominant sector of the UK economy, and contributes around 73% of GDP.

The creative industries accounted for 7% GVA in 2005 and grew at an average of 6% per annum between 1997 and 2005. Key areas include London and Manchester. The definition of creative industries recognises twelve creative sectors:

• Advertising
• Architecture
• Arts and antique markets
• Crafts
• Design
• Fashion
• Film, and photography
• Software, computer games and electronic publishing
• Music and the visual and performing arts
• Publishing
• Television
• Radio.

Successful industries in the UK

• advance manufacturing

• aerospace

• automotive sector

• digital industries

• creative industries

• legal services

• energy industries

• low carbon[1].

THE NORTH-SOUTH DIVIDE

In Great Britain, the term North – South divide refers to the perceived economic and cultural differences between Southern England and the rest of Great Britain (Northern England, Wales and Scotland). As a generalisation, the following tend to indicate that there is some sort of north-south divide:

• Health conditions, which are generally seen as being worse in the north, though spending on health care is higher.
• House prices, which are higher in the south, particularly the south-east.
• Earnings, which are higher in the south and east.
• Government expenditure, which is higher in the north.
• Political influence.

Industrial decline is most usually given as an explanation for the North-South divide. During the Industrial Revolution, many northern cities underwent a process of intense industrialisation, as raw materials such as coal and iron ore could be found in these areas. This led to comparatively high wealth also to over reliance on a few key industries and, as heavy industry began to leave the UK for developing countries, these areas declined rapidly.

Major primary industry is North Sea oil. UK continental shelf NE Scotland. The UK has 30^th largest proven oil reserves in the world. The waters off the east coast of Scotland contain half of remaining resources, a quarter near Shetland Islands. Nat gas in the North sea onshore Irish sea. Self-suff in oil till 2008. production peaked in 2001 now declining. Uk energy production: fossil 75% gas 45% coal 30%

[1] A low-carbon economy or low-fossil-fuel economy is an economy that has a minimal output of greenhouse gas.

Date: 2015-12-24; view: 1085