Secondary Economic Activities France example essay topic

Movement A. Economic Description Compared to other countries, France's economy is the fourth largest in the world. France is a very industrialized nation, yet it has kept some of the cultural characteristics that contribute to its old-world charm. The economy is "exceptionally diversified" ("Economic Structure", 1). It produces everything from aircraft's to pharmaceuticals. 1. Primary Economic Activities Agriculture is France's main primary economic activity.

The agriculture and agro-food industries make up about 6% of the gross domestic product which is the total sum of everything in the economy ("Economic Structure", 1). However, agriculture is about the only bountiful natural resource in France. While France has limited amounts of coal, uranium, and other materials that could be mined, it is very hard to get to those places because they are so deep in the ground and they are unusable in steel production. France also produces hydroelectric energy but it can not produce enough to meet the entire country's needs ("Natural Resources", 1). 2. Secondary Economic Activities France engages in quite a few secondary economic activities such as manufacturing, machinery and transport equipment production, aircraft production, and pharmaceutical items.

This part of the economy makes up about 26% of France's gross domestic product and 25% of its labor force ("CIA 2001", 1). Manufacturing plays the largest role out of all of the secondary economic activities with a contribution of 16% to the gross domestic product. Behind it are the construction and energy generation companies which account for 4% and 3% of the gross domestic product ("Economic Structure", 1). Tertiary Economic Activites Services are a large part of the composition of France's gross domestic product. It accounts for 70.6% of the GDP and a whopping 71% of the work force ("CIA 2001". 1).

Tourism has a lot to do with the very large chunk services take up in France's gross domestic product. People make their way to France for many different reasons. Some people come for the great food, wines, and pastries. Others come for the beautiful scenery of the French Riviera, Eiffel Tower, and fun festivals such as the gypsy festival which is known for its extravagant singing and dancing. Others come for art and entertainment which they can take in at any one of France's many museums such as the Louvre. The Cannes Film Festival is another event that makes France an attractive destination for those who love the arts.

The festival brings film stars together from all over the world to promote their new summer movies. There is something for everyone in France. According to lonely planet. com, the best times to go to France are in the spring and winter. In the spring, the weather is nice and people start going out to the beaches. In the winter you can have fun in the snow around France's Alps and the Pyrenees. B. Migration 1. Refugee Migration Because France is centered right in the middle of Western Europe, it is bordered by several countries.

Therefore it would be very easy for refugees from adjoining countries to come over to France for safety. Refugees coming over to France could be a very big problem if more than one country bordering France were to engage in civil war. An influx in refugees could lead to overpopulation in areas and possibly food and supply shortages. If France were to engage in a civil war, its people would have the option of going to any of the countries that are on its borders. France has a good relationship with most, if not all, of its border nations and any of their refugees would more than likely be welcomed until the civil war ended. However, the countries that border France could also have the same problems that France would face is refugees came into their country such as overpopulation and food and supply shortages.

Since the end of World War II, most interactions between the countries of Western Europe have been nice and civil. Such things as the European Union were put into place to ensure "stability, peace, and economic prosperity" (European Union, 1). 2. Guest Workers Guest workers have become more and more important since the days following World War II. Today, almost all countries have guest workers. France is no exception.

Some of the groups that are presently in France are from sub-Saharan Africa, the Maghreb (region in Northwest Africa), Algeria, and former French colonies in North America (Sancton, 1). This immigration into France has some permanent impacts on the country itself. One thing that this has impacted is the population. It is estimated that around 14 million French citizens have at least one parent or grandparent that was an immigrant (Sancton, 1).

Without all of these immigrants coming into France, the work force would be much smaller which could lead to a reduction in France's total production in all areas. Another permanent impact is the blending of the immigrant workers cultures with that of the French. Olivier Nora, a publisher was quoted as saying: "there is an impregnation of music, language, phrasing from elsewhere. It throws into question the model of white-bread, patrician French culture. It is an extraordinary source of vitality". (Scanton, 2).

Lastly, religion has also made a permanent impact on France. With the immigration of many workers who practice Islam, Islam has become the second largest religion that is practiced in France. There is a flip side to the permanent impacts of immigration in France. Many people who have come to France in hopes of finding work have been badly disappointed. It appears that many of the French people are not happy with the multiculturalism that is taking over parts of the country.

Some native French people are excluding many guest workers in areas from having any place in socio-economic integration. This exclusion could cause many of the 40% of young adults with a North African background (Scanton, 3) to leave France and try to get jobs elsewhere. This migration from France to another area could cause some of the new culture that was finding its way into French culture to lessen or even cease to exist.

Bibliography

Movement Economic Structure. The Economist. 7 June 2002 web The European Union at a Glance.
European Union. 18 June 2002 web CIA World Fact Book 2001.
6 June 2002 web Facts for the Traveler.
Lonely Planet. 19 June 2002 web Daniel.
France's Natural Resources. Discover France. 17 June 2002 web resources.
shtmlSancton, Thomas. Mixing Bowl. Time Europe. 19 June 2002 web.