Human Geography 101: Economic Geography - Sectors of Economy Primary Secondary Tertiary Quaternary Quinary

What This Is

The sectors of an economy are a way to categorize the different types of economic activities that occur within a society. Understanding the sectors of an economy is crucial for analyzing spatial patterns and human-environment interactions, as it helps explain why people and places are so different. For example, the growth of the tertiary sector in cities like New York and London has led to gentrification, where affluent residents move into previously working-class neighborhoods, displacing long-time residents.

Key Models, Theories & Terms

• Primary Sector: The extraction of raw materials from the environment, such as agriculture, mining, and forestry. This sector is often associated with rural areas and developing countries. Example: The Amazon rainforest is a prime example of a primary sector, with many indigenous communities relying on the forest for their livelihood.
• Secondary Sector: The processing and manufacturing of raw materials, such as textiles, steel, and electronics. This sector is often associated with urban areas and industrialized countries. Example: The city of Detroit, Michigan, was once a hub for the automotive industry, with the secondary sector driving the local economy.
• Tertiary Sector: The provision of services, such as retail, hospitality, and finance. This sector is often associated with urban areas and developed countries. Example: The city of Tokyo, Japan, is a prime example of a tertiary sector, with many service-oriented industries driving the local economy.
• Quaternary Sector: The provision of knowledge-based services, such as software development, consulting, and research. This sector is often associated with urban areas and developed countries. Example: The city of Silicon Valley, California, is a hub for the quaternary sector, with many tech companies driving innovation and economic growth.
• Quinary Sector: The provision of high-level knowledge-based services, such as financial analysis, strategy consulting, and scientific research. This sector is often associated with urban areas and developed countries. Example: The city of New York City, New York, is a hub for the quinary sector, with many financial institutions and consulting firms driving economic growth.
• Fordism: A production system that emphasizes mass production and standardization, often associated with the secondary sector. Example: The Ford Motor Company's assembly line production system is a classic example of Fordism.
• Post-Fordism: A production system that emphasizes flexibility and customization, often associated with the quaternary sector. Example: The rise of the gig economy and online marketplaces has led to a shift towards post-Fordism in many industries.

Step-by-Step Application

1. Identify the dominant sector of an economy by analyzing the types of industries present in a region. For example, a region with many agricultural fields and farms is likely to have a strong primary sector.
2. Determine the level of economic development by examining the proportion of the workforce employed in each sector. For example, a country with a large tertiary sector is likely to be more economically developed than one with a large primary sector.
3. Analyze the spatial distribution of industries within a region. For example, a region with a strong secondary sector may have a concentration of manufacturing facilities in a specific area.
4. Examine the impact of technological advancements on the sectors of an economy. For example, the rise of e-commerce has led to a shift towards the tertiary sector in many industries.
5. Consider the role of government policies in shaping the sectors of an economy. For example, a country with a strong government support for the quaternary sector may have a high level of innovation and economic growth.

Common Misconceptions

• Misconception: All migration is permanent.
• Correction: Not all migration is permanent, as many people engage in circular migration, where they move temporarily for work or other reasons and then return to their home country.
• Example: Many migrant workers in the Middle East engage in circular migration, moving to the region for work and then returning to their home country.
• Misconception: GDP per capita is the same as standard of living.
• Correction: GDP per capita is a measure of economic output, but it does not necessarily reflect the standard of living, as it does not account for factors such as income inequality and access to basic services.
• Example: A country with a high GDP per capita may still have a low standard of living if the wealth is concentrated among a small elite and many people lack access to basic services.
• Misconception: Rank-size rule applies to every country.
• Correction: The rank-size rule is a statistical pattern that describes the distribution of city sizes in a region, but it does not apply to every country, as many countries have different urban systems and economic structures.
• Example: The rank-size rule does not apply to countries with a strong central government, such as China, where the government has a significant impact on urban development and economic growth.

AP Exam / Free-Response Tips

• FRQ Task Verbs: Identify, describe, explain, compare, and analyze are common task verbs on the AP Human Geography exam.
• Integrating Models: Be sure to integrate models and theories into your essays, as this is a key aspect of the AP Human Geography exam.
• Distinctions: Be aware of key distinctions, such as the difference between ethnicity and nationality, and be able to explain these concepts in your essays.

Quick Practice Scenario

A megacity in a developing country grows rapidly as rural residents move in for factory jobs. Identify the dominant migration pattern and one likely urban model that describes its structure.

Answer: The dominant migration pattern is circular migration, and one likely urban model that describes its structure is the Burgess concentric zone model.

Explanation: The Burgess concentric zone model describes a city with a central business district surrounded by concentric zones of residential areas, with the most affluent residents living in the inner zones and the least affluent living in the outer zones. This model is likely to describe the structure of a megacity in a developing country, where circular migration has led to a rapid growth in population and a concentration of industries in the central business district.

Last-Minute Cram Sheet

• Primary Sector: Extraction of raw materials from the environment.
• Secondary Sector: Processing and manufacturing of raw materials.
• Tertiary Sector: Provision of services.
• Quaternary Sector: Provision of knowledge-based services.
• Quinary Sector: Provision of high-level knowledge-based services.
• Fordism: Mass production and standardization.
• Post-Fordism: Flexibility and customization.
• Circular Migration: Temporary movement for work or other reasons.
• GDP per capita: Measure of economic output.
• Standard of Living: Quality of life and access to basic services.
• Rank-Size Rule: Statistical pattern describing city size distribution.
• Ethnicity: Shared cultural identity.
• Nationality: Shared citizenship and government.
• Universalizing Religion: Religion that actively seeks converts.
• Ethnic Religion: Religion that does not actively seek converts.