Economic Activity and Energy

Topic 4: Economic activity and energy – variations in economic activity over time and spatially, the relationship between population and resources and detailed case studies of energy resource management in a developed and a developing or emerging country. 

Key Ideas	Detailed Content
4.1 The relative importance of different economic sectors and the location of economic activity varies spatially, and changes over time	a) Classification of employment by economic sector (primary, secondary, tertiary and quaternary) and the reasons for the differences in the employment structures in countries at different levels of development (Clark Fisher Model). (1) b) Factors affecting the location of economic activity in each economic sector and how these factors can change over time. c) Reasons for the changes in the numbers of people employed in each economic sector, including the availability of raw materials, globalisation, mechanisation, demographic changes and government policies.
4.2 The growth and decline of different economic sectors has resulted in a range of impacts and possible resource issues.	a) Positive and negative impacts of economic sector shifts in a named developed and a named developing or emerging country. (2) b) Informal employment: causes (economic development, rural-urban migration) and characteristics (advantages and disadvantages) in a named megacity. (3) c) Different theories (Malthus and Boserup) are used to explain the relationship between population and resources. (4)

Case studies of energy resource management in a developed country and a developing country or an emerging country.

Key Ideas

Detailed Content

4.3 Countries increasingly experience an energy gap and therefore seek energy security by developing a balanced energy mix and sustainable energy use

a) Energy demand and production varies globally and is affected by a range of factors: population growth, increased wealth and technological advances. b) Non-renewable, e.g. coal, oil, natural gas, uranium and shale gas/oil, and renewable sources of energy, e.g. solar, wind, hydroelectric power (HEP), geothermal, biomass, have advantages and disadvantages for people and the environment. c) Energy can be managed in a sustainable way through education, efficiency and conservation (within industry, transport and the home). (5)

Integrated skills

(1) Draw and interpret triangular graphs to show the proportion of people employed in the primary, secondary and tertiary/quaternary sector.

(2) Use numerical economic data to profile the chosen country.

(3) Interpret photographs and newspaper articles

(4) Use and interpret line graphs showing changes in population and resources over time.

(5) Calculate carbon and ecological footprints.