By
Pamela Byrne, Eric Bennett, Brendan Duffy, Ciaran Mooney, Patrick
Nulty, Emma Beatty, Rebekah Corrigan, Fiona Coogan, Pamela Davis, Roisin Duffy,
Sharon Thunder, Sarah Jane Smyth and Joe Brennan
In recent years geographers have become increasingly concerned with
differences between countries and regions within the EU. Geographers are
primarily concerned with identifying the causes and effects of regional
variations in economic well being. A region is an area, which has certain
uniform characteristics, which set it apart and make it distinctive. Thus it is possible to identify climatic
regions, industrial regions and urban regions. All of these factors of climate,
topography etc. combine to produce a certain level of economic development and
in defining such economic regions, five criteria are used: the per capita GNP,
the proportion of the workforce engaged in farming, the proportion of the
workforce in declining industries, the level of unemployment, the annual rate
of out-migration. Using these criteria it is possible to identify three main
types of region: Cores regions, Maladjusted regions and
Peripheral/Marginal/Underdeveloped regions. In addition, there are also
regions of conflict, such as Northern Ireland, which have quite
different features and problems.
A core region is a region of economic dynamism. Wage rates, job opportunities and standards
of living are attractive. Population
densities are high. There is a high
concentration of expertise and a high degree of accessibility. Such areas are centers of innovation, ideas
and fashions, which gradually become established as the normal at regional,
national or international scale. Core
areas can be single cities, often-national capitals, or regions such as the Rhine-Ruhr
and Northern Italy. In the EEC, a core
area, often called the 'central axis of growth,' can be recognized stretching
from the Merseyside in England to Paris, the Rhineland’s and Northern Italy. A higher level of wealth, prosperity and
population characterizes it. Cores tend to have: a high per capita GNP, a low
proportion of the workforce engaged in farming, a low proportion of the
workforce in declining industries, a low level of unemployment and a low annual
rate of out-migration.
Five factors can be identified as contributing to this situation. Agriculture: Europe's most fertile
farming regions with large-scale, intensive and profitable farming are along
this core area, Examples include the Dutch polders, the loess-limon deposits of
the North European Plain and river basins such as the Po valley. Energy: the area contains most of
Europe's coalfields, oil and gas reserves and HEP production. Industry:
Europe's major industrial regions lie along this axis, with a large
proportion of heavy industries such as oil refining, steel production,
engineering, chemicals and textiles. Transport:
the network of inland waterways, railways, motorways, airports and seaports
provides a high degree of accessibility Population. Within this area there are over 100 million
people, mostly in the many large cities, with the highest average incomes in
Europe. These five factors confer a competitive advantage in most activities
because of the concentration of resources, advantageous situation and
concentration of expertise. It also
allows specialization in activities that are doing well.
Peripheral regions are located around the extremities of
Europe. Employment and income are still
largely dependent on agriculture and modern industry has failed to take root to
any significant extent. Many farms are
small and young people tend to abandon farming and leave it to an aging
population. These regions are characterized by: a low per capita GNP, a high
proportion of the workforce engaged in farming, a low proportion of the workforce
in declining industries, a high level of unemployment and a high annual rate of
out-migration.
Regions such as the west of Ireland, the Scottish Highlands and
Islands, Brittany, Aquitaine and the Central Massif in France, Galicia in Spain
and the Italian Mezzogiorno fall into this category of underdeveloped
peripheral area. Much of the population in the poorest of these regions earn
only pittances from craft industries and have no minimum wages and social
security. The infrastructure of roads,
schools, water supplies and hospitals is totally inadequate. Not only must agriculture be modernised but
also the problems of isolation and the absence of modern services and training
facilities must be remedied.
South West Coastlands This area goes from the south tip of the
country to the Trondheim Lowlands. In the very south, there is a coastal plain,
but north of Stavanger there are many fiords. As you head inland, the ground
becomes higher. There is a lowland area around Trondheim and settlement has
concentrated around the fiords. The climate is cool temperate oceanic because
of the north Atlantic drift and westerly fronts from the Atlantic. The average winter temperature is +2 degrees
and summer is +16 degrees. Rainfall is 1,500mm per year. Farming is difficult
with steep slopes. Transhumance is dying out. Near Trondheim there is good
agriculture. There is also very good fishing at Stavanger and Bergen as the
fiords provide good harbors and the flat ground is used to build processing
plants. Many farmers are part time fishermen as well. Cities on the coast are
growing due to North Sea oil and gas e.g. Stavanger. Many industries and
services in these cities have the advantage of being able to use cheap H.E.P.
While farming is poor, this is not a peripheral area or maladjusted (as
industries are only here since the 1960s).
·
200 meters –
650 meters high (upland),
·
Difficult to
carry out agriculture here, due to poor soils, cooler climate and slopes,
·
The region is
not industrialized but forestry is important,
·
No real urban
centers,
It therefore can be seen as an underdeveloped region.
Northern Territory
(peripheral region) This
region begins at 64°North. It can be divided into three parts: Nordland, Troms,
and Finnmark. It is 1,800km long and varies in width from 6km at Narvik to
180km at Finnmark. It encompasses one third of the area of the Country but only
has one tenth of the population. There are many fjords and 90% of the
population lives within 8km of the sea. The population density is 3 per km² but
this decreases as you move further inland. There are some nomadic Lapps but
this way of life is in terminal decline. Some of the major towns include
Narvik, Tromso, Hammerfest, and Mo-Irena. The problems of the region are
physical, social, and economic. It is far from the Core area around the Oslo
lowlands. Farming is poor due to poor topography, severe winters and a short
growing season. Farming is at subsistence level and most farmers are part-time
foresters too. There is no capital within the area to invest, so economic
growth must be generated with funds from outside the region. The population is
small so communications are poor as they are difficult to build and to maintain.
It is also difficult to justify social services like hospitals due to the low
population. It is difficult to attract manufacturers and those who do come,
leave once government grants have stopped. There is a high level of
out-migration among young people.
Fishing is well developed because of the influence of the North
Atlantic drift. There are 10,000 people employed directly in fishing or in fish
processing industry in Narvik and Vardo. Farming is subsistence, cattle are
stall-fed and fodder is obtained from outside the area. In terms of mining,
iron ore is found at Dunderland and steel processing is found at Mo-i-Rana.
Between 1952 and 1972 the North Norway scheme was set up. This
attempted many things including: money was put into infrastructure such as the
E6 motorway to Kirkenes; bridges were built and ferries improved. Farms were
consolidated with guaranteed prices and co-operatives were set up. However
farming is still at the subsistanence level. Decentralization from Oslo was
also encouraged with the use of grants and tax breaks. Development of winter
tourism has been attempted but the region is very expensive. The North Sea oil
and gas has also created onshore jobs. There have been some successes such as
jobs in industries and services being created and the per capita GNP has risen
and out migration has slowed down.
Oslo Lowlands This area includes the area of lowland
surrounding the fjord and the coastal plains as far as Kristiansand in the
south and the river valleys stretching from the uplands to the head of the
fjords. Many rivers including the Lagan drain this area. The Oslo Lowlands
houses 50% of Norway’s population and boasts a wide range of assets, for
example, it holds the seat of government, it is a nodal, tourist and financial
center and it also the home of the Royal Family. All of these features
contribute to the success of the region.
Farming in this region is particularly well developed for the following
reasons:
·
North
Atlantic drift- this ensures that sea and ferries ports are kept ice-free
during winter.
·
Well drained,
undulating lowlands- these provide ideal conditions for growth of crops.
·
Glacial
deposits- provide rich and fertile soil for growth.
·
Aspect- a
south-facing slope ensures more light and warmth for an extended growing
season.
·
This area
specializes in the growth of wheat, oats and barley much of which is used for
fodder and market gardening.
·
In the last
30 years farm production has risen by 70% because: Farm size has increased,
increased use of fertilizers and scientific method.
Forestry is carried out on high ground and north-facing slopes, land
that otherwise is unsuitable for tillage farming. Products of forestry include
timber, pulp, and paper. Forestry occurs in this area because of:
·
Proximity to
local forests
·
The Oslo
harbor is good for exporting products of forestry
·
Demand for
wood due to importance of ship building in the area.