ECONOIC GEO-EGE 3250 2024
TOPIC ONE: INTRODUCTION TO ECONOMIC GEOGRAPHY
Introduction
This chapter will introduce economic geography as a sub-discipline of geography that
uses a geographical approach to study the economy. The chapter will stress that an
economic-geographical approach to studying economies is very different from the
approach used by mainstream economics. In this chapter we will explore some of the
key differences between the approaches used by geographers and economists. The
chapter will suggest that the field of economic geography offers some unique insights
and is well placed to analyze and understand the contemporary world economy in all its
complexity. One of the key features and strengths of the economic-geographical
approach is the use of the concepts of space, place and scale and these will be
introduced in turn. The chapter will also point out that economic geography itself
represents a dynamic, evolving and diverse body of knowledge. However, this diversity
also allows economic geography to engage with a number of issues in contemporary
societies and economies. Indeed, despite the claims that economic globalization will
inevitably bring about ‘the end of geography’, geography matters more than ever and
economic geography provides us with useful tools to analyze and understand economic
processes that shape our world.
Definition of Economic Geography:
Geographers are of different opinions as regarding the definition of the subject.
In fact, different authorities have defined Economic Geography in a variety of ways but their
opinions converge at a common point of accord, where it means the study of the spatial
distribution of man’s economic activities in relation to its environment, be it physical or non-
physical.
According to Dudley Stamp, Economic Geography “involves consideration of the geographi-
cal and other factors which influence man’s productivity, but only in limited depths, so far
as they are connected with production and trade.”
Professor E. W. Zimmermann pointed out that, Economic Geography deals with the economic
life of man with relation to environment.
Page 1 of 14
, ECONOIC GEO-EGE 3250 2024
R. S. Thoman in his book ‘The Geography of Economic Activity’ has remarked, “Economic
Geography may be defined as an enquiry into the production, exchange and consumption
of goods by people in different areas of the world. Particular emphasis is placed on the
location of economic activity — upon asking just why economic functions are situated
where they are in this world.”
J. MacFarlane describes Economic Geography as the study of “influence exerted on the eco-
nomic activity of man by his physical environment, and more specifically by the form and
structure of the surface of the land, the climatic conditions which prevail upon it and the spatial
relations in which its different regions stand to one another.”
In the words of Hartshorn and Alexander: “Economic Geography is the study of the spatial
variation on the earth’s surface of activities related to producing, exchanging and consuming
goods and services. Whenever possible the goal is to develop generalizations and theories to
account for these spatial variations.”
Surpassing all, Chisholmes says that Economic Geography is presumed to “form some
reasonable estimate of the future course of commercial development,” as determined by
geographical factors.
NB
Economic Geography is the study of man and his economic activities under varying sets of
conditions. In other words Economic geography is a sub-discipline that uses a geographical
approach to study the economy. Its name would suggest that economic geography lies
somewhere between, or at the overlap of, the disciplines of geography and economics. This is
true to some extent. In fact, both geographers and economists use the term ‘economic
geography’. However, they mean different things by it. Indeed, it is important to stress from the
outset that the approach that geographers are using to study the economy is very different from
that used by most economists.
Page 2 of 14
TOPIC ONE: INTRODUCTION TO ECONOMIC GEOGRAPHY
Introduction
This chapter will introduce economic geography as a sub-discipline of geography that
uses a geographical approach to study the economy. The chapter will stress that an
economic-geographical approach to studying economies is very different from the
approach used by mainstream economics. In this chapter we will explore some of the
key differences between the approaches used by geographers and economists. The
chapter will suggest that the field of economic geography offers some unique insights
and is well placed to analyze and understand the contemporary world economy in all its
complexity. One of the key features and strengths of the economic-geographical
approach is the use of the concepts of space, place and scale and these will be
introduced in turn. The chapter will also point out that economic geography itself
represents a dynamic, evolving and diverse body of knowledge. However, this diversity
also allows economic geography to engage with a number of issues in contemporary
societies and economies. Indeed, despite the claims that economic globalization will
inevitably bring about ‘the end of geography’, geography matters more than ever and
economic geography provides us with useful tools to analyze and understand economic
processes that shape our world.
Definition of Economic Geography:
Geographers are of different opinions as regarding the definition of the subject.
In fact, different authorities have defined Economic Geography in a variety of ways but their
opinions converge at a common point of accord, where it means the study of the spatial
distribution of man’s economic activities in relation to its environment, be it physical or non-
physical.
According to Dudley Stamp, Economic Geography “involves consideration of the geographi-
cal and other factors which influence man’s productivity, but only in limited depths, so far
as they are connected with production and trade.”
Professor E. W. Zimmermann pointed out that, Economic Geography deals with the economic
life of man with relation to environment.
Page 1 of 14
, ECONOIC GEO-EGE 3250 2024
R. S. Thoman in his book ‘The Geography of Economic Activity’ has remarked, “Economic
Geography may be defined as an enquiry into the production, exchange and consumption
of goods by people in different areas of the world. Particular emphasis is placed on the
location of economic activity — upon asking just why economic functions are situated
where they are in this world.”
J. MacFarlane describes Economic Geography as the study of “influence exerted on the eco-
nomic activity of man by his physical environment, and more specifically by the form and
structure of the surface of the land, the climatic conditions which prevail upon it and the spatial
relations in which its different regions stand to one another.”
In the words of Hartshorn and Alexander: “Economic Geography is the study of the spatial
variation on the earth’s surface of activities related to producing, exchanging and consuming
goods and services. Whenever possible the goal is to develop generalizations and theories to
account for these spatial variations.”
Surpassing all, Chisholmes says that Economic Geography is presumed to “form some
reasonable estimate of the future course of commercial development,” as determined by
geographical factors.
NB
Economic Geography is the study of man and his economic activities under varying sets of
conditions. In other words Economic geography is a sub-discipline that uses a geographical
approach to study the economy. Its name would suggest that economic geography lies
somewhere between, or at the overlap of, the disciplines of geography and economics. This is
true to some extent. In fact, both geographers and economists use the term ‘economic
geography’. However, they mean different things by it. Indeed, it is important to stress from the
outset that the approach that geographers are using to study the economy is very different from
that used by most economists.
Page 2 of 14
