Lecture Notes: Industry Unit Part 1

Introduction

• Overview of Industrial Revolution origins
• Discussion of economic models and measurements of development
• Forrest Gump as a thematic example for industry sectors

The Industrial Revolution

• Began in 1700s England
• Key factors:
  • Abundant resources: coal and iron
  • Technological advancements:
    • Bessemer process: expedited steel smelting
    • Steam engine: faster transportation
    • Spinning jenny: increased textile output
• Spread to mainland Europe, Japan, and the US
  • US Industrialization:
    • Began in New England
    • Deindustrialization led to the rust belt
    • Sunbelt: technological growth, 1960s population boom
    • Corn belt: significant agricultural region

Societal Changes

• Agricultural surplus led to population boom
• Urban migration for factory work
• Class restructuring:
  • Pre-industrial: nobility, clergy, farmers/merchants
  • Post-industrial: nobility/wealthy, middle class, working class (proletariat)
• Colonialism driven by resource demand
  • Example: European "race for Africa"

Economic Sectors

• Primary Sector: extraction of natural resources (e.g., farming, fishing)
• Secondary Sector: manufacturing and processing (e.g., woodwork)
• Tertiary Sector: service sector (e.g., baristas, retail)
  • Rise of gig economy: transportation, delivery services
• Quaternary Sector: information and research (e.g., tech companies)
• Quinary Sector: high-level decision making (e.g., CEOs, politicians)

Development Process and Models

• Stages of development (US example):
  • Primary: high in initial stages
  • Secondary: factory dominance
  • Tertiary: post-deindustrialization service sector
  • Quaternary and Quinary: technological advancement

Rostow’s Model

• Stages: Traditional, Preconditions for Take-off, Take-off, Drive to Maturity, High Mass Consumption
• Criticisms: Ignores colonialism, resource limitations, and dependency theory

World Systems Theory

• Core: high consumption, education
• Periphery: raw material extraction, low-skilled labor
• Semi-periphery: industrial production (e.g., China)
• Criticisms include neglect of NGO effects

Least Cost Model (Weber)

• Location factors: labor, agglomeration, transportation
• Bulk-gaining vs. Bulk-reducing:
  • Bulk-gaining close to consumer (e.g., cars)
  • Bulk-reducing close to raw material (e.g., paper)

Measurements of Development

• GDP: total goods/services value within a country
• GNP: value tied to nationality (profits sent back to home country)
• GNI: GDP + imports/exports value
• Other Metrics:
  • Fertility rates: inversely related to development
  • Infant mortality rates: higher in less developed countries
  • Fossil fuel and renewable energy use
  • Literacy rates: indicate education and development level

Conclusion

• Review Quizlet vocabulary terms for additional study