《英语国家概况》Chapter4

《英语国家概况》Chapter4整体总结，包括Recent History of British Economy和Current British Economy两个部分。

UK Economy

• Recent History of British Economy
  • Economic decline
  • Causes
    • two World Wars——great economic loss
    • the era of the British Empire was over——decolonization (losses of raw material & market)
    • military expense (until the process of decolonization completed in the 1960s)
    • substantial financial contributions to NATO and U.N. Security Council（联合国安理会）
    • Britain failed to invest in industry after world War two
  • Policies
    • mixed economy
      • an economy in which there is some public ownership as well as privately owned business
    • During the 20th century the government has become involved in the economy through introduction of social welfare policies and laws to regulate industrial relations
    • 1945-1979
      • In 1945, the labor party
        • carried out drastic reforms
          • nationalize key industries (such as coal, steel and transport)
        • laid the foundation for postwar British social and economic development
      • Result: Britains economic growth fell behind that of western European countries
    • 1979-1997
      • 1979-1997 Conservative Party
      • Margaret Thatcher
        • Radical economic reform
          • sell back those industries to the private sector beat inflation (primary objective)
          • Promote competitive spirit in economy
        • Social welfare reduced
      • Result: Inflation came under control, recovery, but its economic growth still lagged behind
    • 1997-1997
      • In 1997 the labor party Tony Blair
        • the "Third Way"
          • differ from the old the Labor party's nationalization reform and the conservative party's extreme individualism
          • made the Bank of English independent
          • emphasisized on the minimum wage and supplementing low incomes
          • emphasized individual responsibility
      • Britain's economic growth surpassed other major European countries
• Current British Economy
  • the world's fish largest economy (after US, Japan, Germany, China)
  • The UK's people are the world's twelfth richest
  • Sterling（英镑）——performed relatively well against major currencies in recent years
  • Natural Recourses & Infrastructures
    • Principal recources-oil and gas
    • Large amount of coal
    • Highly developed efficient main road and rail network and airports
  • Agricultural
    • Mild climate
      • favourable environment for agricultural and stock raising
    • Important crops
      • wheat, barely, sugar beet, potatoes
    • playing important role
      • dairy farming, fishing manufacturing
    • However, the beef industry was crippled
  • Energy Production
    • shell, British Petroleum(BP), British Aas(BA)
  • Services Industries
    • London-the strongest performing region in the UK
  • Finace
    • London
    • the Bank of England, The London foreign exchange market, Fund management, Security Dealing