British economy Chief industries Trade Unions British

British economy. Chief industries. Trade Unions.

British economy The British economy is primarily based on private enterprise. However, some industries were nationalized after World War II. This was typical nationalization carried out on capitalist lines.

The national economy of Great Britain is vitally dependent on foreign trade. This dependence is growing in recent years. About a third of the industrial products of the country is exported. With the loss of the colonies the economy has become extremely vulnerable to balance-ofpayments problems.

The typical pattern of Britain's overseas trade has been a trade deficit. This has a negative influence on the development of the country and especially on its finances. However, the trade deficit is often offset by a surplus on socalled invisible trade due to the earnings of the country from international travel, shipping, tourism and financial services.

Agriculture supplies nearly 2/3 of the country's food and employs about 2. 5% of Britain's employed labour force. More than 2/3 of the land pastures belong to the landlords. These holders rent the land employ agricultural workers. Technological progress in agriculture has enhanced class differentiation in agriculture as a result of which more than half of the holders of small-scale farming units were ruined in the last two-three decades.

The structure of the economy has experienced serious changes which are quite common for all developed capitalist countries: there has been a decline in the relative importance of manufacturing and a rise in that of services.

Since the middle 19 th century, when the rapid growth of industry, commerce and shipping was accompanied by Britain’s development as an international trading centre, overseas trade has been of vital importance to the economy.

Chief industries • As in other developed countries, manufacturing plays a vital role in the economy, as well as energy production.

1. Electricity The conventional steam power stations are numerously located in Midland England in the South-East. The major hydro-electric power stations are operating in Scotland because of the available water resources.

2. Manufacturing It plays a vital role in the British economy. It is mostly in the hands of private enterprise. The greater parts of the iron and steel and shipbuilding industries are nationalized. These industries are in serious decline due to the fall of demand both at home and abroad and the hostile attitude of the Conservative government. The British industry, manufacturing included, is facing serious difficulties. Tough foreign competition on the world markets adds up to these difficulties.

3. Metals include iron, steel, non-ferrous industry. The main steel producing areas are: Yorkshire and Humberside, Wales (26%); The Northern region (16%); Scotland(11%); The West Midlands (5%).

4. The mechanical engineering industry Electronics is one of the most important sectors of British industry, which is developing fast and wide. The Thames valley is a leading area with a major concentration of high technology industries called the ‘Sunrise Strip’. Another area is situated near Cambridge.

5. The motor vehicle is the largest single manufacturing industry in Britain and, in spite of its recent decline, is still a major exporting industry. Britain is a major producer and exporter of agricultural tractors, especially of wheeled tractors. Birmingham and Coventry are major centres of the tractor industry.

6. Aerospace industry is one of he largest and comprehensive in Western Europe. The products of the industry include civil and military aircraft, helicopters, aero-engines, guided weapons, hovercraft and space vehicles.

7. The chemical industry The manufacturing of all kinds of chemicals is developing intensively and accounts for about 16 % of the British manufacturing exports, placing the country among the major chemical exporting nations of the world. The largest concentration of the heavy chemical industry is in the south of Lancashire, Teesmouth and the West Midlands.

8. The textile industry (in cotton and wool manufacture mainly). The main places are: Lancashire; Yorkshire; Manchester

9. Leather and footwear industry. The British leather and footwear industries are among the most important industries and Great Britain is the world’s largest exporter of both leather and leather footwear. Its factories are scattered throughout the country, the main regions and centres being Midland England, London, Bristol.

10. The food, drink and tobacco industries are developed all throughout the country. 11. The pottery industry is centred in the Potteries in Shaffordshire and it supplies almost all home needs for domestic and industrial pottery. 12. Paper and board manufacture

Trade unions The trade unions were formed during the period of the growth and rise of capitalism. They had as their main task the raising of the material and cultural level of the proletariat and the extension of their political rights. This extension was carried further during the two World Wars. After WWII unionism grew rapidly among white-collar workers. And now there are more than 460 unions of different importance, twenty of the unions have more than 100, 000 members each, but others are not very big.

The activities of trade unions vary: 1. provision of benefits to member (to insure members against unemployment, ill health, old age). 2. collective bargaining (TU are able to negotiate with employers over wages and working conditions) 3. Industrial action(they may organize strikes or residents to lockouts) 4. political activity (may promote legislation favorable to the interests of their members). But today TUs play not a progressive but a reactionary role, that’s why they need to be replaced by some sort of fresh organizations.

Agriculture in contemporary Britain. British trade. Britain and Europe.

There about 254, 000 farming units, of which about a half are able to provide fulltime employment for at least one person and account for over 90 % of total output.

Britain is self-sufficient in milk, eggs, to a very great extent in meat, potatoes, wheat. However, Britain needs to import butter, cheese, sugar and some other agricultural products.

Cattle 60 % of full-time farms – dairying or beef cattle and sheep. Sheep and cattle are reared in the hill and moorland areas of Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland northern and south-western England. 3 main types of farming: pastoral, arable, mixed. Arable – the eastern parts of England Scotlan; the rest of the country – pastoral and mixed farming

Cereals The crop – the eastern parts of the country. Barley – the eastern parts of England, especially in East Anglia and in the south-east, as well as in Central Scotland. • The potato crop – all throughout the country. Sugar from home-grown sugar beet provides about 55 per cent of the requirements, most of the remainder being refined from raw sugar imported from developing countries. • •

Forestry Woodland covers about 9% of the total land area of the country. The Forestry Commission is the national forestry authority in Great Britain and is responsible for timber production and forestry policy which includes wildlife conservation, the landscaping of plantations, and the provision of facilities for recreation.

British trade Britain joined EEC or Common market in 1973. The Federal Republic of Germany, the US, Japan, France, the Irish Republic and other developed countries are leading trading partners of Britain.

Foods represent about 10% of the total import bill. In the nation’s substantial food bill, the leading import items are fruit, vegetables, meat, beverages (tea, coffee, cocoa) and cereals (wheat). Crude oil is also important. A lot of manufacture goods are exported and Britain has no raw materials, these raw materials, which can not be produced in the country, are purchased abroad.

The export abroad continues to be a major factor in its development. Britain export manufactured goods, including machinery and transport equipment, but chemicals and petroleum products are also important. So Britain is a major supplier of machinery, vehicles, aerospace products, metal manufactories, electoral equipment, chemicals and textiles.