7.3 Economic Sectors and Patterns

The Economic Sectors

Economies are divided into sectors by activity type. Primary sector extracts raw materials (farming, mining, fishing). Secondary sector processes raw materials into goods (manufacturing). Tertiary sector provides services (retail, banking). Quaternary sector handles information and knowledge (research, IT, education). Quinary sector includes top-level decision-makers (CEOs, government officials).

Sectors and Development

As countries develop, employment shifts from primary toward secondary, then tertiary/quaternary sectors — a pattern called the sectoral shift. Highly developed countries have small primary-sector workforces (mechanized agriculture) and large tertiary/quaternary sectors, while developing countries rely heavily on primary-sector jobs.

Measuring Economic Patterns

Geographers use GDP/GNI per capita, sector employment share, and indices like the Human Development Index (HDI) to compare countries. These patterns reveal spatial inequalities: core regions (wealthy, industrialized) versus periphery regions (less developed, resource-dependent), connected through global trade networks.

Key terms

Primary sector

Economic activities that extract raw materials, such as farming, mining, and fishing.

Secondary sector

Economic activities that process raw materials into manufactured goods.

Tertiary sector

Economic activities that provide services, such as retail and banking.

Sectoral shift

The gradual movement of a country's workforce from primary to secondary and then tertiary/quaternary sectors as it develops.

Core vs. periphery

Core regions are wealthy and industrialized with economic power; periphery regions are less developed and resource-dependent.

Try an AP-style question

Mining and farming are part of the…

1. primary sector
2. quaternary sector
3. tertiary sector
4. secondary sector