Syllabus

Title
0002 Einführung in die Wirtschaftsgeographie
Instructors
Simone Maria Grabner, Ph.D.
Contact details
paul.gross@wu.ac.at
Type
VUE
Weekly hours
2
Language of instruction
Deutsch
Registration
09/09/24 to 09/27/24
Registration via LPIS
Notes to the course
Subject(s) Bachelor Programs
Economic Geography
Course III - Economy and Society
Dates
Day Date Time Room
Thursday 10/03/24 01:00 PM - 04:00 PM TC.2.01
Thursday 10/10/24 01:00 PM - 04:00 PM TC.1.02
Thursday 10/17/24 12:30 PM - 04:30 PM TC.2.02
Thursday 10/24/24 12:30 PM - 04:30 PM TC.2.02
Thursday 11/07/24 12:30 PM - 04:30 PM TC.2.02
Thursday 11/14/24 12:30 PM - 04:30 PM TC.2.02
Thursday 11/21/24 12:30 PM - 04:30 PM TC.2.02
Thursday 11/28/24 05:30 PM - 09:30 PM TC.1.01 OeNB

On this page:

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Contents

Our world is facing multiple crises at once, from climate change and the energy crisis to rising living costs. These challenges coincide with rapid technological advancements and a shifting geopolitical landscape, which fuel existing spatial inequalities. Stark disparities persist between the Global North and the Global South. Peripheral & rural regions grapple with de-industrialisation, while 'superstar cities' attract a disproportionate share of global capital. Understanding the drivers of these uneven spatial development patterns is the central tenet of economic geography. This course will provide a comprehensive foundation to field and equip students to critically explore the reasons behind the unequal distribution of economic activity.

In a series of three modules, the course introduces foundational concepts, core subjects, and contemporary issues in economic geography. Module 1 covers basic concepts, definitions and theoretical frameworks as well as an overview on the process of uneven development and the role of space in capitalism. Module 2 explores the pivotal themes of globalization and urbanization, covering the processes, impacts, and implications of these phenomena on local and global economies. Module 3 addresses two main contemporary challenges. First it investigates the process of financialization and its spatial impacts. Second, the module covers issues around resources, environment & climate change and discusses alternative economic geographies, such as degrowth.

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Learning outcomes

After completing this course, students should be able to:

  • Recognize the significance of applying a spatial perspective to economic analysis, appreciating how geography shapes economic phenomena.
  • Understand the complementary nature of economic geography research alongside traditional economic studies, acknowledging the added insights gained from examining spatial dimensions.
  • Gain insight into contemporary economic geography issues, including globalization, urbanization, financialization, and environmental challenges.
  • Appreciate and be able to recognize the complex interaction between historical, geographical and environmental factors which shape economic processes on the global and local level. 
  • Develop skills in critically reading, interpreting, and discussing scientific journal articles, enhancing their ability to engage with scholarly literature and contribute to academic discourse in economic geography.
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Attendance requirements

Students are required to attend 50% (3 out of 6) of the lectures.  It is recommended that you come to all of the six lecture slots. Additionally you have to attend 100% (4 out of 4) of the discussion sessions.

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Teaching/learning method(s)
  • Concise lectures for foundational understanding
  • Interactive in-class data analysis and interpretation
  • Analysis of case studies to apply theoretical knowledge
  • Independent critical reading of compulsory literature
  • Online quizzes
  • Collaborative class discussions
  • Group exercises
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Assessment

There are 108 points, of which 8 are bonus points:

  • 4 in-class quizzes [max. 5 pts. each]: 20 pts.
    • About the reading of the discussion session
    • In weeks 3-6
  • 4 group exercises [max. 5 pts. each]: 20 pts.
    • based on the readings assigned for the discussion sessions 
  • Participation in seminar [max. 2 pts. per session]: 8 pts.
  • Final exam: 60 pts.     
    • Min. 30 pts. need to be reached to pass the course.
    • Consists of a multiple choice section and open questions.
    • If you provide documentation proving that you cannot participate in the exam (e.g. doctor's note), or if you obtain more than 10%, but less than 50% of the possible score in your first exam attempt, you get the opportunity to take a second attempt at the end of the current semester.
    • The exam takes place in the midterm exam week on 28 November 2024.  

Quizzes and the exam are individual tasks, and the group assignment needs to be your own work. Cheating (e.g. copying from neighbors) as well as undeclared use of AI tools for group assignments will result in 0 pts being awarded. Repeated offenses are passed on the VR Lehre, risking a four month ban on exams and courses.

Grading:                     

0.0 to <50.0

= Fail

50.0 to <62.5

= Sufficient

62.5 to <75.0

= Satisfactory

75.0 to <87.5

= Good

>=87.5

= Excellent
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Readings

Please log in with your WU account to use all functionalities of read!t. For off-campus access to our licensed electronic resources, remember to activate your VPN connection connection. In case you encounter any technical problems or have questions regarding read!t, please feel free to contact the library at readinglists@wu.ac.at.

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Availability of lecturer(s)

Lecturer

  

Simone Maria Grabner, Ph.D.

Administrator

  

Paul Gross

Homepage

  

https://www.wu.ac.at/en/wgi/
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Unit details
Unit Date Contents
1 10/03/24

MODULE 1 - FOUNDATIONS OF ECONOMIC GEOGRAPHY

Module 1 introduces the field of economic geography by establishing its foundational concepts and theories. It covers key theoretical frameworks such as location theory, new economic geography, political economy, post-structuralist approaches, and institutional and evolutionary economic geography. These theories offer diverse perspectives for analyzing the spatial organization of economic activities. The module then addresses the key issue of uneven development, exploring the historical development of capitalism and its role in creating spatial inequalities. This provides a basis for understanding the integral role of space in capitalism and this shapes economic inequalities between different regions.

Week 1: Introduction (Lecture)

Content:

  • Definition and scope of economic geography.
  • Overview of key theories (location theory, new economic geography, political economy, post-structuralist, institutional & evolutionary economic geography).

Mandatory reading: MacKinnon & Cumbers (2019), Chapter 1 and 2.

Additional reading: Coe et al. (2020), Chapter 1, Stutz & Warf, Chapter 1.
2 10/10/24

Week 2: Uneven Development  (Lecture)

Content:

  • Fundamentals of the dynamics of capitalism as an economic system.
  • The production of space & the integral role of space in capitalism.

Mandatory reading: Coe et al. (2020), Chapter 3.

Additional reading: Stutz & Warf (2014), Chapter 2, MacKinnon & Cumbers (2019), Chapter 3.
3 10/17/24

MODULE 2 - GLOBALIZATION AND URBANIZATION

Module 2 addresses two pivotal issues in Economic Geography: globalization and urbanization. It begins by defining and examining the processes and impacts of globalization on both local and global economies. Content covered include global production networks, the distribution of economic activities, and the resultant winners and losers. Closely linked with globalization is the process of urbanization. The economic implications of urbanization are explored in depth, including the reasons behind the existence of cities and their significance within the dynamics of capitalism. Furthermore, the module covers the role of cities as hubs of innovation, creativity, and progress, highlighting their importance in the global economy.

Week 3 (Lecture and Discussion Session): Globalization

Content:

  • What is globalization?
  • Global production networks & local development.
  • Winner & losers of globalization

Mandatory reading: Coe et al. (2020), Chapter 4.

Additional reading: MacKinnon & Cumbers (2019), Chapter 9; Dicken (2015), Chapter 10
4 10/24/24

Week 4 (Lecture and Discussion Session): Urbanization

Content:

  • Why are there cities?
  • Agglomeration economies & production of space.  
  • Role of cities as hubs of innovation, creativity, and progress.

Mandatory reading: MacKinnon & Cumbers (2019), Chapter 10.

Additional reading: Stutz & Warf (2014), Chapter 12; Coe et al. (2020), Chapter 12
5 11/07/24

MODULE 3 - FINANCIALIZATION AND ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES

Module 3 addresses two significant contemporary issues in economic geography: financialization and environmental concerns. First, the module explores the increasing dominance of financial capital and its spatial impacts. It covers content such as the nature of financialization, financial crises and cycles, and the effects of global financial capital flows on cities and regions. The second part of the module explores critical issues related to resource use, environmental issues, and climate change. It investigates the concept of limits to growth and examines the uneven impacts of environmental crises across different regions. The module also explores alternative economic geographies, such as degrowth, as potential solutions to address environmental challenges as well as uneven development.

Week 5 (Lecture and Discussion Session): Financialization

Content:

  • What is financialization?
  • Financial crises and cycles.
  • Spatial impacts of global financial capital & crises.

Mandatory reading: MacKinnon & Cumbers (2019), Chapter 4

Additional reading: Coe et al. (2019), Chapter 8
6 11/14/24

Week 6 (Lecture and Discussion Session): Resources, Environment & Climate Change

Content:

  • Resources & limits to growth.
  • Uneven impacts of the climate/environmental crisis.
  • Degrowth & alternative economic geographies

Mandatory reading: MacKinnon & Cumbers (2019), Chapter 12

Additional reading: Coe et al. (2020), Chapter 11; Stutz & Warf (2014), Chapter 4
7 11/21/24

Week 7: Review and Exam Preparation

Content: Review of key concepts, discussion of major themes, preparation for the exam.
8 11/28/24

FINAL EXAM 
Last edited: 2024-06-25



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