Economic Activity and Energy flashcards

Primary sector

Jobs involving the extraction of natural resources from the Earth, e.g. farming, fishing, mining.

Secondary sector

Jobs involving manufacturing or processing raw materials into goods, e.g. factory work, car production.

Tertiary sector

Jobs providing services to people or businesses, e.g. teachers, doctors, retail workers.

Quaternary sector

Jobs involving information services and research, e.g. scientists, software developers.

Clark-Fisher model

Shows the shift in employment from primary to tertiary and quaternary sectors as a country becomes more developed.

Pre-industrial societies

In pre-industrial societies, the primary sector dominates.

Industrial societies

In industrial societies, the secondary sector dominates.

Post-industrial societies

In post-industrial societies, the tertiary and quaternary sectors dominate.

Decline of the primary sector

Reasons include mechanisation and cheaper imports from abroad.

Formal employment

Work that is officially recorded, taxed, and regulated by the government.

Informal employment

Work that is not officially registered or taxed, e.g. street vendors, shoe shiners.

Advantages of informal employment

Provides jobs for those who can’t access formal work; offers flexibility.

Disadvantages of informal employment

Low wages, lack of job security, no legal protection.

Unemployment

When people are actively looking for work but cannot find a job.

Factors influencing industry location

Raw materials, transport, market, labour supply, government policy.

Footloose industry

An industry not tied to any particular location due to its low dependence on raw materials or transport.

Deindustrialisation

The decline of the secondary sector, especially manufacturing, in developed countries.

Globalisation

The growing interconnection of countries through trade, communication, and culture.

Transnational corporation (TNC)

A company that operates in more than one country, e.g. Nike, McDonald’s.

Benefits of TNCs in developing countries

Job creation, infrastructure development, access to technology.

Drawbacks of TNCs in developing countries

Exploitation of workers, environmental damage, profits may not stay in the country.

Renewable energy sources

Sources that can be replaced naturally, e.g. solar, wind, hydroelectric, geothermal.

Non-renewable energy sources

Sources that will eventually run out, e.g. coal, oil, natural gas.

Fossil fuel

A non-renewable energy source formed from the remains of dead plants and animals.

Energy security

When a country can meet all its energy needs reliably and affordably.

Energy insecurity

When a country cannot meet its energy demands consistently.

Causes of energy insecurity

Conflict, lack of resources, over-dependence on imports.

Energy gap

When energy demand is higher than energy supply.

Energy surplus

More energy than needed.

Energy deficit

Less energy than needed.

Sustainable energy

Energy that meets today’s needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet theirs.

Advantages of solar energy

Renewable, no pollution, good for remote areas.

Disadvantages of solar energy

Expensive to set up, weather dependent.

Advantages of wind energy

Renewable, no greenhouse gas emissions.

Disadvantages of wind energy

Noisy, visual pollution, not reliable.

Advantages of hydroelectric power (HEP)

Reliable, renewable, can store energy.

Disadvantages of hydroelectric power

Expensive, floods land, affects ecosystems.

Advantages of fossil fuels

Reliable, high energy output, existing infrastructure.

Disadvantages of fossil fuels

Non-renewable, pollution, contributes to climate change.

Fracking

A method of extracting oil or gas by fracturing rock layers with high-pressure fluid.

Environmental impacts of fracking

Water pollution, earthquakes, methane leaks.

Carbon footprint

The amount of carbon dioxide released due to human activity.

Ways to reduce carbon footprint

Use public transport, eat less meat, use renewable energy.

Energy mix

The combination of different energy sources used by a country.

Factors influencing energy mix

Availability of resources, cost, level of development, government policy, climate.

Example of a country with high renewable use

Norway – mostly hydroelectric power.

Example of a country dependent on fossil fuels

Saudi Arabia – large oil reserves and exports.