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3.4 Linking forest dependence and economic structure

A second concern brought forward by the public was to develop a better understanding of the linkages between different uses of the forest and economic structure. To maintain consistency with our focus on industrial concentration, we examined the correlation between forest dependency (industrial concentration in the four-forest related sectors described above) and industrial concentration (the ratio of employment in each industrial sector to total employment in an area) in ten sectors: (1) agriculture; (2) mining; (3) construction; (4) manufacturing; (5) trade; (6) wholesale; (7) retail; (8) finance, insurance and real estate; (9) service; and (10) government. Again, it is important to emphasize that correlation (estimated using the Pearson correlation coefficient) does not imply causation. However, correlation analysis does allow patterns to be observed linking the degree of industrial concentration in forest related sectors and other industrial sectors. A description of such patterns provides preliminary evidence for future research into cause-and-effect relationships describing economic structure. Such research was beyond the scope of this Chapter.