Understand global economic patterns, trade flows, and the geography of development
Explore the three main sectors of the economy and their geographic distribution:
Definition: Extraction and harvesting of natural resources
Typical in: Developing countries, rural areas
Definition: Manufacturing and processing of raw materials
Typical in: Industrializing countries, urban areas
Definition: Services and information-based activities
Typical in: Developed countries, major cities
Definition: Knowledge-based and high-tech services
Typical in: Advanced economies, tech hubs
Explore international trade flows and economic relationships between regions:
Compare economic development indicators across different country classifications:
Understand why industries locate where they do and how these patterns are changing:
Industries locate near material sources to reduce transport costs
Examples: Steel mills near iron ore, sawmills near forests
Industries seek areas with appropriate workforce and wage levels
Examples: Textiles in low-wage areas, tech in skilled regions
Industries locate near customers to reduce distribution costs
Examples: Bakeries in cities, car plants near consumers
Access to efficient transport networks reduces costs
Examples: Ports, airports, highways, railways
Energy-intensive industries locate near power sources
Examples: Aluminum smelters near hydroelectric plants
Tax incentives and regulations influence location decisions
Examples: Export processing zones, tax havens
Explore the global distribution of key natural resources and their economic impact:
Middle East, Russia, USA
China, USA, India
Australia, Brazil, China
South Africa, Australia, Russia
Chile, Peru, China
Australia, Chile, Argentina
Botswana, Russia, Canada
Kazakhstan, Canada, Australia