Questions & Answers: Geography - North America

Briefly describe the geographic realm of North America.
The geographic realm of North America is home to two countries, Canada and the United States (which is currently considered a global superpower). This realm is characterized by pluralistic (diverse) societies which, unfortunately, are often plagued by social inequalities. It is also a postindustrial realm, which means that the economies of Canada and the United States each experienced increases in the amount of available information technology and rapid expansions of the tertiary (service) sector of industry after the industrialization processes in those countries. The eight regions of North America (many of which stretch across the U.S.-Canada boundary) are largely differentiated by differences in the various economic activities practiced in different areas. These regions include the Continental Core, the South, the Southwest, the West Coast, the Agricultural Heartland, French Canada, the New England/Maritime Provinces, and the Marginal Interior.

Describe the general economic geography of Canada.
As one of the world’s wealthiest nations, Canada has a largely postindustrial economy, with employment concentrated in the service sector (particularly retail). However, unlike many developed countries, primary economic activities (specifically logging and oil production) are important aspects of the country’s economy. Canada has a large and varied (though regionally variable) supply of natural resources, such as oil, nickel, and lead. Canadian agricultural products (especially wheat and grains) are exported in high levels to the United States, Europe, and East Asia. Another unusual aspect of Canada’s economy (as compared to those of other highly-developed nations) is the historical secondary status of the manufacturing sector of industry. Though it is certainly not unimportant, manufacturing has never been as vital to the nation’s economy as primary or tertiary activities. Many of Canada’s industrial firms are branches of U.S. companies. Regional disparities in wealth and economy strength have increased regionalism throughout the region.

Describe the general economic geography of the United States.
As a current superpower, the United States has one of the most advanced economies in the world. Like Canada, the United States contains many deposits of natural resources. For instance, the North American realm has more coal reserves than any other. The spatial organization of regional agricultural production in the United States exists within the framework of a modified Von Thunen model, with the “megalopolis” of New England at its center, and belts of specialized activity extending westward. Though the manufacturing sector is less important in a postindustrial economy, this type of activity is still practiced in the United States, and tends to cluster around several urban-industrial nodes, especially within the Manufacturing Belt (located in the Northeast United States). Increased mechanization and advancements in technology have eliminated many “blue-collar” jobs in this region. Most laborers in the U.S. workforce are employed in quaternary economic activity. States offering noneconomic amenities (such as weather and proximity to urban centers and universities) have experienced higher levels of growth than other regions.