1. Introduction: WHAT IS ECONOMIC GEOGRAPHY?
The evolution of the Regional Economics science through the years. How is space dealt with by contextual sciences. Fundamental concepts: defining the region, the city, space, location and virtual space.
(2 lectures)
2. THE SPATIAL DIMENSION OF PRODUCTIVE ACTIVITIES
A study of the spatial dimension of mankind’s organisation and activity in non-urban areas. How space is organised in non-urban areas in relation to the climate, the soil morphology, the cultivation system, etc.
Which are the main mechanisms shaping the location of productive activities? The three most important schools of thought interpreting the location mechanisms: classical, behaviouralist and that of Political Economy.
Industrial enterprises without factories of their own.
Location theories of the tertiary sector (super markets, fast food, offices, etc)
Spatial distribution of Foreign Direct Investments – do they enhance spatial disparities?
(9 lectures)
3. TRANSPORTS-COMMUNICATIONS
Distance as ‘friction’, measure of length, transportation cost, time required for the transportation. Reduction of population, goods and information flows due to the distance. The evolution of transportation systems; a tendency to nullify the actual distance. Roads as networks: coherence, accessibility, etc. Contribution of telematics in ‘homogenising’ space.
Call Centres, internet auctions, digital divide. The distribution of the use of internet reflects and in fact reproduces existing disparities.
(4 lectures)
4. THE SPATIAL DIMENSION OF RESOURCES: POPULATION
Composition and structure of the population (age pyramids). What determines the distribution of people in space, what is the role of population in development? The phenomenon or urban migrants to the countryside (in migrants).
Changes of population – migration. Academically, which is the role of migration in an economic system as a counterbalance mechanism.
Academically, how is the decision to migrate interpreted? a) internal migration (rural depopulation, b) external (international) migration, retirement migration, return migration. International commuting.
(4 lectures)
5. ‘LEVELS’ OF GEOGRAPHICAL SPACE – DEPICTION OF GEOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION
Maps. The personal (subjective) geographical space: perceptions, experiences, revivals. Mental maps.
Geographic Information Systems (GIS). The use of maps in economic analysis.
(2 lectures)
6. THE USE OF LAND ON A REGIONAL AND URBAN LEVEL
What is the distribution between the various activities on a regional level: agriculture, industry, forests, settlements, etc. and on an urban level: tertiary sector, residence, social infrastructure, etc.
‘Collision’ between the different activities, but also within an activity itself, for the occupation of space. How is it settled?
(1 lecture)
Total number of lectures: 11 weeks x 2 lectures/week = 22 lectures
The lectures will be given by the tutor, except from the cases when experts on the issue to be discussed will be invited in class. These announcements will be posted at the News/Announcements section of the site.
