GEOG110 Introduction to Economics and Place
Course Orientation and Key Concepts
David Conrads orients students to Geography 110's second term, highlighting that there are two modules: "Economies in Place" and "Development in Place". Each module includes six lectures, two quizzes, and two labs. Assignment feedback is available on Learn. Students should review comments to identify strengths and areas for improvement, while also familiarizing themselves with university grading system. Labs begin this week, focusing on referencing and academic sources in preparation for the upcoming second assignment.
Introduction to Economic Geography
Mark Cooper introduces economic geography, focusing on geographical processes. The lecture outlines four fundamental questions:
What determines the spatial distribution of economic activities?
What is the relationship between economic activities and the environment?
How have economic systems changed over time?
What is the relationship between politics and the economy?
The lecture explores the definition of economy, emphasizing its evolving and politically contested nature. The discussion begins with Cooper's background from rural Western Kansas, highlighting themes of place and economic characteristics.
Key Questions in Economic Geography
Spatial Distribution of Economic Activities
Why economic activities happen in some places and not others, including the clustering of industries and the disparities in economic wealth. Examined through examples like Sao Paulo's rich-poor divide and industrial clusters such as Silicon Valley. Theories include industrial clusters, hub-and-spoke models (e.g., Detroit's automotive industry under Fordism), and platform clusters.
Economy and Environment
The relationship between technology, extraction, and local environments. Discussed through examples like the giant coal mining equipment in Germany and the concept of a circular economy, which aims to minimize waste and negative externalities by reusing waste products.
Economic Regimes and Economic Change
Comparison of Fordism (mass production, regional markets) and post-Fordism (customization, global markets). Supply chains in post-Fordism are more distributed and globalized. Economic geographers analyze commodity systems (e.g., coffee) to understand value distribution and unequal effects based on location within the system.
Politics and Economies
The connection between political systems and economic outcomes, including questions of equity and justice. Examines the transition from fossil fuels to a net-zero economy and the responsibilities of various entities in achieving sustainable transitions.
The Economy and Economic Characteristics
A reflection on the economic characteristics of different places (e.g., Timaru, Blenheim, Wellington, Queenstown) and how these characteristics shape life trajectories.
Defining the Economy
The word economy comes from Greek, Eco means household, and nomi is like the study of laws. Key components include:
Real: products and services
Representation: national economy metrics
Calculation: decision-making based on economic factors
The term economic geography and the term economics are relatively new. Before that, it was physiocracy, which is basically the government of nature, like how do you make nature produce stuff that's valuable to people? The boundary of what's in or outside the economy changes. Economies are connected and sustained by things that we normally don't see as part of the economy.