Economic Activities, Systems, Agriculture, and Landscapes

Economic Activities and Goods

• Economic Activities: These are activities carried out by humans in order to acquire goods that satisfy consumer needs.
• Economic Goods: These are products and services generated by economic activity.

Composition

• Consumable: Computers
• Non-durable: Pizza
• Capital Goods

Function

• Intermediate Goods: Wool from sheep
• Finished Goods: Shirt made with wool

Ownership

• Private: Belonging to an individual or entity
• Public: Belonging to everyone

Economic Systems

1. Capitalist: Characterized by a free market, private property, freedom to work and hire, and state intervention (on a small scale).
2. Communist: Controlled by the state.
3. Subsistence Economy: Based on self-consumption, typically found in the poorest and most isolated areas of the world.

Economic Definitions

1. Supply: The amount of a product that producers offer for sale at a specific price.
2. Demand: The amount of a product or service consumers are willing to buy at a specific price.
3. Economic Globalization: The increasing integration of markets across the world and the transportation of goods to other countries.
4. Emerging Countries: Countries developing quickly, such as China, India, and Brazil.
5. Palafittes: Houses raised from the ground using wooden pillars.

Agriculture

Traditional Agriculture

1. Subsistence: Produces very little output. Techniques include burning sections of forest, where ashes enrich the soil.
2. Self-Consumption: More productive than subsistence farming, this is a sedentary practice that uses animals but not much mechanization.

Modern Agriculture

1. Commercial: Utilizes technology, chemicals, international products, industrial techniques, extensive farming, and hydroponic crops (which do not need soil).
2. Ecological: Uses no chemical or artificial products, relying on natural methods.

Livestock

Livestock refers to the breeding of animals to produce meat, milk, wool, and leather, or to be used as labor.

1. Traditional: Involves family-owned livestock, large herds, and extensive grazing.
2. Modern: Focuses on high production and the selection of appropriate breeds.

Fishing

Fishing is one of the most ancient human activities.

1. Traditional: Performed in rivers and coastal areas, with production primarily for self-consumption.
2. Artisanal: Small-scale, using small boats and resulting in a small production.
3. Industrial: Conducted on large factory ships where fish are conserved by refrigeration. This method captures very large quantities of fish.

Types of Agrarian Landscapes

Agrarian landscapes refer to natural territories that have been modified by humans.

1. Mediterranean: Characterized by wheat, vines, crops, fruits, and typically small plots of land.
2. Oceanic Continental: Oceanic climates are very humid, with enclosed natural grazing plots. Continental climates feature extensive plains.
3. Tropical and Monsoon: Tropical climates can be desert-like, supporting extensive livestock, but also include very humid zones.