Uneven distribution of manufacturing
Topic: Secondary Activities: Manufacturing and Industrial Location · NCERT: Class 12, Ch 5 "Secondary Activities"
Meaning
Modern manufacturing is not spread evenly across the world. Its main centres cover less than 10% of the world's land. The countries with these centres became centres of economic and political power. One reason the factory areas are so small is that factories need far less land than farms. A small factory area can employ many more people than the same area of farmland.
Example
In the Corn Belt of the USA, 2.5 sq km holds about 4 farms with 10-20 workers, supporting 50-100 people. The same 2.5 sq km could hold several integrated factories with thousands of workers.
Don't confuse with
- Agglomeration economies: the savings firms get by clustering near each other. This is one reason manufacturing is uneven, but it is not the uneven pattern itself.
Related concepts
- Craft method of production
- Mass production
- Assembly line
- Mechanisation
- Automation
- Division of labour