The North-South Divide in England

Essay from the year 2005 in the subject English Language and Literature Studies - Culture and Applied Geography, grade: 2,5, University of Constance, course: Area Studies England, language: English, abstract: In England today there is a big social and economic gap between the North and the South. Statistics prove the existence of this North-South divide. England is a highly centralised country and has no regional governments. London is the financial, political and cultural centre. London's influence is one important reason for the South East being the wealthiest region. The living standards are much better there than in the rest of the country. The decline of the heavy and textile industries after 1945 in the North, once England's richest region, lead to high unemployment, low productivity and low investments there. This was one cause for the North-South divide we have these days.'Todaythe Northwest is characterised by high out-migration levels and a high proportion of its workforce is unskilled. Agriculture is less productive than in the South.'