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Finance and economy
Economy of Great Britain
(Экономика Великобритании)
Great Britain is one of the world's leading industrialized nations. It has achieved this position despite the lack (несмотря на недостаток) of most raw materials(сырье) needed for industry. It must also import 40% of its food suplies. Thus, its prosperity(процветание) has been dependent upon the export of manufactured goods in exchange for raw materials and foodstuffs(продовольствие). Within the manufacturing sector, the largest industries include machine tools; electric power, automation, and railroad equipment; ships; aircraft; electronic and communications equipment; metals; chemicals; coal; petroleum; paper and printing; food processing; textiles; and clothing.
About 25% of Britain's land is arable (пахотный, обрабатываемый, культивируемый), and almost half is suitable for meadows (луга, пойменная земля) and pastures (пастбища). Its agriculture is highly mechanized and extremely productive; about 2% of the labor force produces 60% percent of the country's food needs. Barley, wheat, rapeseed, potatoes, sugar beets, fruits, and vegetables are the main crops. The widespread dairy industry produces milk, eggs, and cheese. Beef cattle and large numbers of sheep, as well as poultry and pigs, are raised(выращиваются) throughout the country. There is also a sizable fishing industry, with cod (треска), haddock (пикша), mackerel (макрель, скумбрия), whiting (мерланг (рыба)), trout (форель), salmon (лосось, сёмга), and shellfish (моллюски, ракообразные) making up the bulk of the catch.
During the 1970s and 80s, nearly 3.5 million manufacturing jobs were lost, but in the 1990s over 3.5 million jobs were created in service-related industries(индустрия обслуживания). By the early 21st cent., banking, insurance(страхование), business services, and other service industries accounted for almost three fourths of the gross(общее количество) domestic product and employed 80% of the workforce. This trend was also reflected(отражать) in a shift(изменение) in Great Britain's economic base, which has benefited(принесло пользу) the southeast, southwest, and Midlands regions of the country, while the north of England and Northern Ireland have been hard hit by the changing economy.
The main industrial and commercial areas are the great conurbations(городская агломерация), where about one third of the country's population lives. The administrative and financial center and most important port is Greater London (Большой Лондон (особая административно-территориальная единица, состоит из Лондона и его пригородов)), which also has various manufacturing industries. London is Europe's foremost(передовой) financial city.
Great Britain has large reserve of coal, oil, and natural gas. Production of oil from offshore wells(морские скважины) in the North Sea began in 1975, and the country is self-sufficient (самостоятельный, автономный, независимый) in petroleum.
Since the early 1970s, Great Britain's trade focus has shifted from the United States to the European Union, which now accounts for over 50% of its trade. The United States, Germany, France, and the Netherlands are the main trading partners, and the Commonwealth(бывшие колонии Англии) countries are also important.