Economic Activity: Agriculture, Industry, Energy and Tourism
What this domain tests
This domain covers primary, secondary, tertiary and quaternary economic activity, with emphasis on agriculture, industry, energy and tourism. You must explain location factors and change over time.
Core rules and concepts
- Agriculture ranges from subsistence to commercial, and from intensive to extensive; physical factors (climate, soil, relief) and human factors (market, capital, technology, policy) interact.
- Industry locates near raw materials, power, transport, labour or markets; modern footloose industries rely more on skills, communications and agglomeration.
- Energy sources are renewable or non-renewable; energy mixes reflect resource endowment, cost, technology and policy.
- Tourism depends on attractions, accessibility, infrastructure, security and marketing; it brings income but can cause seasonal, cultural and environmental pressures.
Worked example
A question asks why a car plant locates on the edge of a large city. Reasoning: it needs a large flat site, motorway access for components and finished vehicles, a labour pool, and proximity to customers; edge-of-city land is cheaper than central land and reduces congestion. The answer should rank factors and explain links, not list them.
Traps
Do not treat industry as only manufacturing. Do not say renewable energy has no environmental impact. In tourism answers, distinguish economic gains from environmental costs. Avoid generic good location; name the factor and its effect.