Economic Geography
Economic Geography
Economic Geography
Autumn 2012/2013
Lecturer:
KUTTOR, Dániel
Economic Geography
Economic Geography
Contacts:
• Institute of World and Regional
Economics
• Building A/4, Room 9
• Telephone: 565 200 or 565 111 / 1887
• Dániel Kuttor:
kuttor.daniel@uni-miskolc.hu
Economic Geography
Economic Geography
Course objectives:
The course intends to provide geographical
knowledge for further economical studies.
In the frame of the subject the physical, social and
infrastructural factors which influence the location
of the economic sectors, actors and activities are
going to be detailed presented, analyzed and
discussed.
A modern, interactive environment is provided in
the PC lab of the Institute. Each student will be
equipped with an own computer during the
lectures.
Economic Geography
Economic Geography
Table of contents:
• Introduction
• Physical factors influencing the location of the economy
• Social factors influencing the location of the economy
• Infrastructural and communication factors influencing the
location of the economy
• Agriculture
• Industry
• Services
• The location of the economy – theoretical approach
• Main actors of the world economy - countries, companies
Economic Geography
Economic Geography
Assignment:
Writing an essay related to the determined topics which are determined
by the lecturer and confirmed by the student. The essay (in extent of
maximum 4000 words) may deal with the analysis of:
- Socio-economic effects of the climate change;
- Role of cities and congestions in the world economy;
- Role of either an economic branch or an economic actor in the world
economy;
- Role of renewable energy in the prospective development;
- Exploitation of limited resources (with special regard to the water, oil,
forests, etc.) and the effects of shortages;
- New theories of Economic Geography.
Each student can acquire maximum 10 points (share of 10 %) according
to her/his activity during the lectures.
The student’s performance is going to be evaluated on the basis of the
quality of essay (share of 30 %), the activity and the exam (share of 60
%).
The students have the possibility to hold a short presentation during the
lectures concerning the topic of the day for extra 10 points.
Economic Geography
Essay
Required components:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Name
Added information
Date
Introduction – Motivation
Analysis
Conclusions
Sources
Economic Geography
Possible topics for essay
Related to the MDGs by UN (Global Social Threats)
Economic Geography
Possible topics for essay
The world's ongoing ecological disasters by Foreign Policy
* Nigeria: Oil Spills
* China: coal fires
* Haiti: Deforestation
* Uzbekistan-Kazkhstan: The shrinking of the Aral Sea
* Pacific Ocean: The Eastern Garbage Patch
Latest News or Environment Issues by National Geography
Priority Areas by UNEP
http://maps.grida.no/
Economic Geography
Economic Geography
Required readings:
• Wheeler-Muller-Thrall-Fik: Economic Geography; Third
Edition, John Wiley & Sons, Inc.;
• Audrey N. Clark: Dictionary of Geography; Third Edition,
Penguin Books;
• National Geographic: Atlas of the World; Seventh Edition;
• Reginald G. Golledge: Geographical theories; UNESCO,
Blackwell Publisher 1996
• Paul Krugman: What’s new about the New Economic
Geography?; Oxford Review of Economic Policy, Vol. 14,
No. 2 1998
• PPT files (published on the web).
Economic Geography
Chapter I
Introduction
Economic Geography
Introduction
Geography:
The study that deals with the material and human
phenomena in the space accessible to human
beings and their instruments, especially the
patterns of, and variation in, their distribution in that
space, on all scales, in the past or present.
Physical Geo
Human Geo
Economic Geography
Introduction
Definition of Geography:
Geo
+
Graph
Economic Geography
Introduction
Definition of Human Geography:
Concerned with the human activities (of
individuals and of groups) and organization in so
far as these relate to the interaction (past or
present) of people with their physical environment
and with the environments created by human
beings themselves, and the consequences of
these interrelationships.
Economic Geography
Introduction
Definition of Physical Geography:
Concerned with the physical characteristics and
processes of the atmosphere, biosphere,
hydrosphere and lithosphere.
Economic Geography
Introduction
• Human Geography
–Field of knowledge that studies human-made
features and phenomena on the Earth from a
spatial perspective. Sub discipline of
Geography.
• Physical Geography
–Field of knowledge that studies natural
features and phenomena on the Earth from a
spatial perspective. Sub discipline of
Geography.
Economic Geography
Introduction
• Human Impact
Economic Geography
Introduction
Physical Geography
Human Geography
Rocks and Minerals
Population
Landforms
Settlements
Soils
Human Migration
Animals
Urban Systems
Plants
Agricultural Systems
Water
Economic Activities
Oceans
Transportation
Rivers and Other Water Bodies
Recreational Activities
Atmosphere
Religion
Climate and Weather
Political Systems
Environment
Social Traditions
Economic Geography
Introduction
Factors of production or (regional) economic
growth:
 Labour >> Population characteristics;
 Land >> Natural resources;
 Capital stock >> Durable goods;
 Extra: Entrepreneurship, Technology,
innovation.
Source: Samuelson, Nordhaus, Haggett
Economic Geography
Introduction
Resources (factors) influencing the location of
world economy:
 Natural/physical;
 Social/human;
 Infrastructural/Institutional;
 Economic.
Economic Geography
Introduction
Natural/physical resources:
1. Mineral resources (fuels, ores, metals, chemical raw materials,
building materials, others);
2. Climate, weather (temperature, precipitation, air pressure, wind);
3. Water reserve (drinking-, irrigating-, industrial water, storage-lake,
fishing, energy resource, transportation);
4. Relief;
5. Soil (quality, stability).
Economic Geography
Introduction
Social/human resources:
1. Population and communities (labour market, consumers;
neighbourhood relations; competencies);
2. Cultural heritage (material culture; intellectual culture; values and
traditions; knowledge);
3. Social structure, life (proprietorship; power <democratic rights,
pluralism; subsidiarity>; solidarity; system of aims);
4. Institutions, political and legal system (business federations; public
safety; bureaucracy; legislation).
Economic Geography
Introduction
Infrastructural resources:
1. Spatial structure and hierarchy of settlements (built-environment; real
estate; public utilities; services <financial, commercial, social,
environmental protection>);
2. Communication and transportation (ICT, telecommunication, logistics);
3. Innovation background (R&D institutions; innovation potential).
Economic Geography
Introduction
Economic resources:
1. Location, proximity (distance from the core regions or the centres);
2. Economic development (trajectories, productive capacities; diversification;
competition; cooperation);
3. Market conditions (demand and supply; price level; rate of return);
4. Capital stock and flow (concentration of capital; movements of capital);
5. Consumption behaviour (system of customs and tariffs; tax system,
subsidies; preferences).