People, Production and the Environment

Population growth, urban development, the use of energy and resources, all have an effect on economic activities. In turn, patterns of production and employment fuel the way economies develop and influence our environment at local and global scales. This book explores these relationships, showing how all these issues interact as economies grow and change. Covering global economic systems and trends, the book introduces core concepts such as industrialization, trade, industrial location, energy production, distribution and transport, shortage and surplus. It looks in detail at specific issues of production, from food and agriculture, to manufacturing and service industries, analyzing the development process and the way our systems of production impact on the environment. The book also presents international case studies.