Quaternary Economy – The knowledge-based part of the economy such as IT, consultancy, education, training, and research and development

The tertiary and quaternary sectors make up 76% of the UK's economy.

To remember the meaning of the term Quaternary Economy, use the following mnemonic:

Each quarter of the canary (quaternary) was a different colour, but that didn't stop it training people and selling its knowledge.

The quaternary economy – also known as the knowledge economy – is the intellectual aspect of a country’s economic infrastructure. It includes education, training, the development of technology, and research and development.

It is the part of the economic mix that enables entrepreneurs to innovate better manufacturing processes and improve the quality of services offered.

Without improvements in technology and information, economic development would be slow or might even stagnate.