The American Economy includes agricultural (maize, wheat, ranching), industrial (including heavy industry, electronics, and software), and service (banking, insurance) sectors. The US economic system is heavily conditioned by technology. In fact, the USA can boast various productions, all in large quantities.
Agriculture
The sector most affected by technology is certainly agriculture, where an intensive type of technique is privileged, that is, getting the most out of even small land or a few livestock. The massive use of non-natural agents to increase the productivity of land is not uncommon; livestock breeding conditions are not even rare, the animals are kept in huge sheds divided into cages of such dimensions that they can barely contain the animal, called “feedlots”, consequently each shed makes the most of the space it has an available layout. In these farms, the animals are kept still to fatten and overfed for 3-5 months and then slaughtered.
The USA boasts over 100 million cattle, over 58 million pigs, and a very high number of sheep. Farms are distinguished between farms for animals used for milk and animals used for slaughter. Areas for slaughter include Texas and the Western Ranges (Occidental Mountains) where there is a great availability of grasslands for grazing; the areas where milk is raised are the North-East, the Appalachian mountains, and the area of the great lakes, this part of the territory is called the “dairy belt”.
The crops are divided into the so-called belts. The “wheat belt”, wheat belt, which includes the central part of the USA, is a territory characterized by a dry climate, therefore not suitable for other types of crops. Wheat farming is also practiced in some northern states such as Minnesota, Dakota, and Montana where wheat is grown in the spring as the winter is too cold.
This crop is also widespread in some southern areas such as Texas, Kansas, and Oklahoma, where wheat is grown in the fall. The “corn belt”, the maize belt, which includes those states that enjoy a mild climate throughout the year, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, and Nebraska, has led, thanks to the very high production, the USA to be the first world producer of Turkish maize; apart from this, soy production has recently been added, in fact, the “corn belt” is also called the “corn-soy belt”.
The “cotton belt”, which almost no longer exists, included the areas of the deep South, and is now limited to Texas, Mississippi, Arizona, and California, in the southern areas cultivation has been replaced by other products that are more in demand on the market and which require the same climatic conditions as tobacco, rice, peanuts, and sugar cane. Horticulture is also very important and is practiced in the North-East near the large megacities where there is a great demand for perishable products, i.e. consumables in a short time.
Horticulture is also widespread in California and Florida. now it is limited to Texas, Mississippi, Arizona, and California, in the southernmost areas the cultivation has been replaced by other products that are more in demand on the market and which require the same climatic conditions such as tobacco, rice, peanuts, and sugar cane. Horticulture is also very important and is practiced in the North-East near the large megacities where there is a great demand for perishable products, i.e. consumables in a short time.
Horticulture is also widespread in California and Florida. now it is limited to Texas, Mississippi, Arizona, and California, in the southernmost areas the cultivation has been replaced by other products that are more in demand on the market and which require the same climatic conditions such as tobacco, rice, peanuts, and sugar cane. Horticulture is also very important and is practiced in the North-East near the large megacities where there is a great demand for perishable products, i.e. consumables in a short time. Horticulture is also widespread in California and Florida.
The production of timber is also notable, thanks to the over 300 million hectares of forests, which allow for the production of 500 million cubic meters of timber per year.
Fishing
With 5.6 million tons of fish products, the USA is the 5th fishiest country in the world after China, Peru, Japan, and Chile. In California and in the Gulf of Mexico, oyster and shellfish farming is also flourishing.
Industry
The industry is another sector where the US is extremely competitive. The “manufacturing belt” (the manufacturing belt), extends throughout the northeast but is also expanding to the south and west. American industry specializes in the production of high-tech appliances such as TVs, computers, and hi-fis.
The USA is second in the world, behind Japan for the production of cars. Also important are the industries of rubber, high fashion (New York, Baltimore, and Chicago), chemicals and oil (south and above all in Texas), cinema, and catering (fast-food and multinationals such as Coca-Cola). In America, we can find the most advanced electronics industry. American industry is built on three things: capital, cutting-edge technology, and global reach.
Tertiary
The tertiary sector is the field where the United States is most advanced. 72.1% of the GDP comes from the tertiary sector and 73.3% of workers are employed in the tertiary sector. Great importance is given to transport with over 300,000 km of the railway network, used mostly for the transport of goods, and is integrated with an extremely efficient road network; the road and railway network covers the whole territory, facilitating the transport of goods and travel.
Despite the attacks of 11 September, air transport, with its 16,000 airports, is one of the favorites of the Americans, it can be said that in America the plane is used as in Italy the train is used. Naval transport is also highly developed.
The highly developed transport network has favored the birth of related commercial activities such as motels, insurance companies, shippers, and service areas. Other very efficient tertiary sectors are private schools, which offer, in addition to a high level of teaching, security, in fact, there are often shootings in public schools where it is necessary to pass under metal detectors placed at the entrances; another sector is that of ancillary services to businesses such as legal assistance, marketing, and advertising firms. Not forgetting tourism, the USA welcomes 30 million visitors every year.
International Trading
International trade sees the export of high-tech products, tobacco, soybeans, raw materials, and cotton in the first place; while the US imports energy, high-quality manufactured goods (mostly clothing), and tropical agricultural products. Domestic trade is driven by large companies that own large department stores spread throughout the territory.
The sector where the USA has no competition in telecommunications. All have access to satellite and cable TV, as well as high-speed internet connections. The privilege of Americans is to have salaries that allow them a high purchasing power.
