Экономика Великобритании и диалектика её развития
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cturing was in electrical and instrument engineering ($13,700 million); followed by food, drink and tobacco ($13,600 million); mechanical engineering ($12,600 million); paper, printing and publishing ($11,600 million); and chemicals and synthetic fibres ($10,800 million).
The average manufacturing company is fairly small. Four-fifths employ fewer than 20 people. These make up 10 per cent of the manufacturing workforce. Businesses employing more than 1,000 people, 0.4 per cent of all businesses, account for 55 per cent of employees.
Power Generation
Britain has the largest energy resources of any EC country. Almost all the countrys energy is provided by oil, natural gas and coal. The electricity supply and gas industries have been privatised, with gas increasingly used to produce electricity in combined cycle gas turbine power stations. Around 20 per cent of electricity is supplied by nuclear power stations.
British companies sell a vast range of plant and equipment to the energy industries.
Offshore Industries
Britain is the worlds ninth largest oil producer and the fifth largest gas producer. Developing North Sea oil and gas has created a huge support industry offering equipment and services to oil and gas companies at home and abroad.
The two leading British oil companies are BP and Shell (the latter is part Dutch). The offshore services industry recorded orders for development work worth $6,000 million in 1991, nearly 80 per cent of which went to British firms.
Mineral and Metal Products
Producing about 80 per cent of Britains crude steel, British Steel is the fourth biggest steel company in the Western world.
Just under half of total output is exported. The major areas of steel production and processing are in Wales, northern and eastern England, and the English Midlands.
In addition to its large output of non-ferrous metals and their alloys, like aluminium and copper, Britain is also a major producer of specialised alloys for the aerospace, electronic, petrochemical, nuclear and other fuel industries. Titanium and titanium alloys, for example, are used in aircraft production. The ceramics industry manufactures domestic pottery, sanitaryware and tiles. Britain is the worlds leading manufacturer and exporter of fine bone china.
Chemicals and Synthetic Fibres
Britains chemical industry is the third largest in Western Europe. The countrys fourth biggest manufacturing industry, it exports nearly 50 per cent of production, making it Britains biggest single export earner. The most rapid growth in recent years has been in pharmaceuticals, pesticides and cosmetics. ICI is the fourth largest chemical company in the world and one of Britains largest exporting companies.
The most important products in the organic chemicals range are ethylene, benzene and propylene. A substantial proportion of world research and development in agrochemicals is conducted in Britain. Notable British discoveries include pyrethroid insecticides, ICIs diquat and paraquat herbicides, systemic fungicides and aphicides, and genetically engineered microbial pesticides.
Much of inorganic production consists of relatively simple bulk chemicals, such as sulphuric acid, serving as basic materials for industry.
Expansion in the plastics sector recently has been mainly in thermoplastics. ICI manufactured the worlds first biodegradable thermoplastic, Biopol, used as a slow release agent for drugs and herbicides, and for making non-polluting bottles and films. ICI is the words largest paint producer.
The pharmaceutical industrys trade surplus of $1,280 million in 1991 was the second largest of all manufacturing sectors. Employing over 87,000 people directly, pharmaceuticals supports employment for a quarter of a million others in related activities. Britain is the worlds fourth largest exporter of medicines, with British firms making three of the worlds ten best-selling medicines, including Glaxos ulcer treatment Zantac and ICIs beta-blocker Tenormin. Retrovir is an approved treatment for HIV infection developed by Britains Wellcome Foundation.
Britain is active in biotechnology research and has made major advances in the development of drugs such as human insulin and genetically-engineered vaccines.
Mechanical Engineering and Metal Goods
Major products include plant and machinery for industries such as chemicals, power and water, as well as fabricated steelwork for bridges, buildings and industrial installations. Britain is among the Western words biggest producers of tractors. Almost all the output of machine tools is purchased by domestic industries. Most sales of textile machinery are to export markets. Overseas orders for mining machinery and tunnelling equipment are also substantial.
Electrical, Electronic and Instrument Engineering
An extensive range of computer hardware systems and associated equipment and software is produced in Britain. Amstrad is Britains best-selling personal computer firm. Several leading overseas manufacturers such as ICL, IBM, Unisys and Compaq have manufacturing plants in Britain.
British firms and research bodies have been active in developing new semiconductor materials like gallium arsenide, which can help computers work much faster.
British Telecom (BT) is the main customer for communications network equipment. Supported by a technically advanced cable industry, it has led in the development of optical fibre communications systems.
Firms such as GEG and Oxford Instruments make sophisticated electronic medical equipment, for example, ultrasound scanners.
Motor Vehicles
The present recession has hit the motor vehicles industry particularly hard. Car output is dominated by Rover (which is British), Ford, Vauxhall, Pegeot Talbot and Nissan. Two other Japanese manufacturers have also established themselves in Britain Honda and Toyota. The motor components industry, consisting of over 2,000 firms, is an important employer.
Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering
The largest sector is devoted to the building and conversion of warships for the Royal Navy and overseas government. British yards also build merchant vessels, including gas carriers and offshore support and research vessels. Marine equipment for example, ships engines and navigation systems is an important sector too.
More than 20 years of oil and gas exploitation in the North Sea have generated a major offshore industry manufacturing platforms, drilling rigs, jack-up rigs and offshore loading systems.
Aerospace
With about 300 companies employing around 150,000 people, Britains aerospace industry is the third largest in the world. Over 70 per cent of production is exported. Since the ending of the “Cold War” production is focusing more on civil products; at present spending on civil and defence products is about equal.
As Britains leading manufacturing exporter, British Aerospace (BAe) produces both civil and military aircraft, satellites, space systems, guided weapons and components. Civil aircraft include the RJ regional jetliner series (formerly the 146) and the best-selling 125 middle-sized business jet. The company has a 20 per cent share in Airbus Industrie, which manufactures a family of airlines.
BAes military production includes the vertical/short take-off Harrier and the Hawk fast jet trainer. It is also a partner in producing the Tornado combat aircraft.
Shorts of Belfast manufactures wings for the Fokker 100 jetliner and is involved in producing the 50-seat Canadair jet airlines. Westland is a partner in developing the multi-role three-engine EH 101 helicopter.
One of the three major aero-engine manufacturers in the Western world, Rolls-Royce manufactures engines for civil aircraft as well as for military aircraft and helicopters. The latest variant of its RB211 turbofan, the Trent, is presently the worlds most powerful turbofan in development. Rolls-Royce is a partner in the International Aero Engine consortium, which makes the V2500 low-pollution aero-engine, now in service on the Airbus A320.
British aviation equipment companies have made significant technological advances. They supply navigation and landing systems, engine and flight controls, power systems, flight deck control and information systems, including head-up displays, of which GEC Avionics is the worlds biggest manufacturer. British firms have also been active in developing flight simulators and “fly-bywire” technology, in which the aircrafts control surfaces are manipulated electronically.
British companies like BAe, Marconi and GEC are engaged in producing satellites and equipment for the European Space Agency and others.
Other manufacturing
Other major industries include and furniture, paper, printing and publishing, rubber tyres and tubes toys, sports equipment and jewellery.
Service Industries
Services account for 65 per cent of Britains gross domestic product and 71 per cent of employment. Services have generally experienced the fastest growth in recent decades. However, with the onset of recession, output dropped by 1.7 per cent in 1991, and spending on services declined by 2 per cent in real terms.
Financial Services
Britain is a major financial centre, housing some of the worlds leading banking, insurance, securities, shipping, commodities, futures and other financial services and markets. The markets for financial and related services have grown and diversified greatly over