Economic Geography: A Contemporary Introduction is a comprehensive and conceptually rich book that offers a modern perspective on how economic activities are shaped by space and place in an increasingly interconnected world. The book is designed to introduce readers to the core ideas, theories, and debates of economic geography while also engaging with contemporary economic, social, and environmental challenges. It moves beyond descriptive accounts of economic activities and instead focuses on explaining the processes that create uneven development, regional specialization, and global interdependence. Theory with real-world relevance, the book serves as an essential resource for students and scholars seeking to understand the spatial dimensions of economic life. The book begins with the foundations of economic geography, establishing the discipline's scope, evolution, and relevance. It explains how economic geography has developed from early studies of resource distribution and location to a broader, more analytical field concerned with power, institutions, and global change. This foundational discussion situates economic geography within the wider social sciences and emphasizes its interdisciplinary nature. Readers are introduced to the idea that economic outcomes are deeply embedded in geographic contexts and historical trajectories. A central component of the book is its discussion of theories of location and spatial organization. These chapters examine classical and modern approaches that explain why economic activities are located where they are. By addressing cost minimization, market access, agglomeration, and spatial interaction, the book provides a strong theoretical framework for understanding patterns of production and exchange. These theories are presented not as abstract models alone, but as tools for interpreting real-world spatial economic patterns and regional differences. The book then explores resources, production, and spatial distribution, highlighting how natural resources, technology, and human decision-making shape economic landscapes. It examines how the uneven distribution of resources contributes to regional specialization and development trajectories.
Henry Wilson is a distinguished scholar and educator widely recognized for his expertise in economic geography and his ability to interpret complex spatial economic processes with clarity and depth. As an expert associated with Economic Geography: A Contemporary Introduction, he has made significant contributions to advancing the understanding of how economic activities are shaped by space, place, and global change. His work reflects a strong commitment to bridging classical geographic thought with contemporary economic realities, making his scholarship relevant to both academic audiences and policy-oriented readers. With a solid academic background in geography and regional studies, Henry Wilson has spent many years researching and teaching economic geography at the university level. His academic training has equipped him with a deep understanding of spatial theory, regional development, and global economic systems. Over the course of his career, he has engaged extensively with debates on globalization, industrial restructuring, urbanization, and regional inequality. This broad intellectual foundation allows him to approach economic geography as a dynamic and interdisciplinary field rather than a static description of economic activities.
| Preface Chapter 1. Foundations of Economic Geography Definition, Scope, and Evolution of Economic Geography Classical and Contemporary Approaches Space, Place, and Economic Activity Globalization and Spatial Organization of the Economy Scale and Spatial Analysis Institutions and Economic Landscapes Quantitative and Qualitative Methods Interdisciplinary Perspectives in Economic Geography Chapter 2. Theories of Location and Spatial Organization Classical Location Theory Agricultural Location Models Industrial Location and Cost Minimization Central Place Theory Growth Pole and Cumulative Causation New Economic Geography Behavioral and Institutional Approaches Critiques and Contemporary Relevance of Location Theory Chapter 3. Resources, Production, and Spatial Distribution Natural Resources and Economic Development Spatial Distribution of Primary Activities Manufacturing Systems and Industrial Regions Energy Resources and Geographies of Power Technology, Innovation, and Production Networks Global Value Chains and Production Fragmentation Environmental Constraints on Production Resource Governance and Sustainability Chapter 4. Agriculture, Food Systems, and Rural Economies Agricultural Systems and Spatial Patterns Commercialization and Modernization of Agriculture Agro-Industrial Complexes and Supply Chains Food Security and Global Food Networks Land Use, Tenure, and Rural Inequality Climate Change and Agricultural Geography Rural Development Strategies Transformation of Rural Economie |
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$280.00