Abstract
The term “industrial structure” can be used in a few ways. This chapter lays out a straightforward description of the term as a classification of the three main economic activities: the agricultural, manufacturing, and services sectors. A pivotal concept is defined: the share of each sector in GDP. As the services sector grows, the other sectors appear to shrink. This shift is, of course, merely in the relative size of each sector, and not necessarily a decline in real output.
Through this discussion, it becomes apparent that the supposed decline in manufacturing is partly a mere artifact of the data reporting system. This helps to plant the idea that the popular image of decline does not accurately reflect the working economy.
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Notes
http://unstats.un.org/unsd/cr/registry/regcst.asp?Cl=27&Lg=1
S. Kuznets, “National Income & Industrial Structure,” Econometrica, Vol. 17 July 1949; pp. 208–9; The Econometric Society.
(See also S. Kuznets, “Quantitative Aspects of the Economic Growth of Nations,” Economic Development and Cultural Change, Vol. 5, No. 4, July 1957, pp 1–111; University of Chicago Press).
See UN Publication, ISIC Rev. 4 (ST/ESA/STAT/SER.M/4/Rev.4) (2008), Section 5.(a)139 Outsourcing; page 29.
All UN data references herein are derived from the UN National Accounts Main Aggregates Database (1990 prices), http://unstats.un.org/unsd/snaama/ dnlList.asp (unless otherwise noted).
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© 2013 Joe Atikian
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Atikian, J. (2013). What Is Industrial Structure?. In: Industrial Shift: The Structure of the New World Economy. Palgrave Pivot, New York. https://doi.org/10.1057/9781137340313_2
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1057/9781137340313_2
Publisher Name: Palgrave Pivot, New York
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