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      Causes of economic change

      Lesson details

      Learning outcome

      I can describe the main causes of economic change in the UK.

      Key learning points

      1. There have been major changes in the economy of the UK.
      2. De-industrialisation and the decline of traditional industrial base have caused economic change in the UK.
      3. Globalisation has caused economic change in the UK.
      4. Government policies have caused economic change in the UK.

      Keywords

      • De-industrialisation - the decline and loss of traditional forms of industry

      • Traditional industries - labour-intensive industries such as coal mining, steel and textile production and ship building

      • Globalisation - an increased connectedness between different countries that spreads money, ideas, goods and people

      • Privatisation - the takeover of state-run industries by private corporations

      Common misconception

      The changes in the UK economy affected all regions equally and at the same time.

      Some areas, such as the north east, continued to rely on traditional industries until the 1980s and 1990s. Other areas, like London, moved into tertiary industries long before others.

      Teacher tip

      It can be difficult for students to understand what life was like in areas dominated by traditional industries. Using short clips from films can help them to see the dependence families had on particular industries.

      Licence

      This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2026), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0
      except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions
      (Collection 2).

      Lesson video

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      Prior knowledge starter quiz

      6 Questions

      Q1.
      What is an economy?

      a country's military strength
      Correct answer: a system of production, distribution and consumption of goods and services
      a type of government policy

      Q2.
      Match the keywords with their definitions.

      Correct Answer:de-industrialisation,the decline and loss of traditional forms of industry

      the decline and loss of traditional forms of industry

      Correct Answer:traditional industries,labour-intensive industries, e.g. mining, steel and textile production

      labour-intensive industries, e.g. mining, steel and textile production

      Correct Answer:globalisation,an increased connectedness between countries

      an increased connectedness between countries

      Correct Answer:privatisation,the takeover of state-run industries by private corporations

      the takeover of state-run industries by private corporations

      Q3.
      Match the type of industry with its definition.

      Correct Answer:primary industry,the production or extraction of raw materials

      the production or extraction of raw materials

      Correct Answer:secondary industry,the manufacturing of goods, e.g. cloth from cotton

      the manufacturing of goods, e.g. cloth from cotton

      Correct Answer:tertiary industry,providing services to people, e.g. a doctor

      providing services to people, e.g. a doctor

      Correct Answer:quaternary industry,knowledge-based industries or high-tech industries, such as ICT

      knowledge-based industries or high-tech industries, such as ICT

      Q4.
      Which of the following is a key cause of economic change in the UK during the Industrial Revolution?

      the rise of digital technology
      Correct answer: the shift from agiculture to manufacturing industries
      the expansion of the service sector
      the decline in global trade

      Q5.
      What impact has de-industrialisation had on the UK economy?

      a rise in manufacturing jobs in traditional industries
      Correct answer: the growth of the service sector, particularly in finance and technology
      a decrease in the use of renewable energy
      a shift towards more agricultural-based employment

      Q6.
      How has globalisation contributed to economic change in the UK?

      by limiting the UK's ability to trade with other countries
      by increasing the UK's reliance on agriculture
      Correct answer: by encouraging international trade

      4 Questions

      Q1.
      Which of these sectors has seen significant growth in the UK as a result of economic change?

      agriculture
      manufacturing
      Correct answer: service sector (finance, technology)
      coal mining

      Q2.
      What is the term used to describe the decline of manufacturing industries and growth of the service sector in the UK?

      urbanisation
      Correct answer: de-industrialisation
      globalisation
      industrialisation

      Q3.
      Which factor has had the greatest influence on the movement of jobs and industries away from the traditional manufacturing area in the UK?

      increased local demand for products
      Correct answer: advances in technology and automation
      population growth
      increased domestic tourism

      Q4.
      is the increased connectedness between different countries that spreads money, ideas, goods and people.

      Correct Answer: Globalisation

      To help you plan your 11 geography lesson on: Causes of economic change, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...