Module and Programme Catalogue

Search site

Find information on

2017/18 Undergraduate Module Catalogue

GEOG2035 Geographies of Economies

20 creditsClass Size: 185

Module manager: Dr Stuart Hodkinson
Email: s.n.hodkinson@leeds.ac.uk

Taught: Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun) View Timetable

Year running 2017/18

This module is mutually exclusive with

GEOG2038Geographies of Economies (international and discovery studen

This module is not approved as a discovery module

Module summary

The module focuses on establishing a solid foundation in contemporary economic geography - principal themes, ideas, terminology, theories, problems, approaches and debates. How do we understand our economic world differently if we think about it geographically? It covers a wide range of topics, including: the capitalist economy, production and consumption, the state and the economy, keynesianism, the developmental state, neoliberalism, globalization and multi-national corporations, foreign direct investment (FDI) and Development, work and employment, agglomeration economies and the power of regions, power, conflict and economic ideologies, struggles over resources, competition between regions, the rise of finance, commodity chains, global production networks, innovation and technological change, disruption and exploitation, the role of institutions, and alternative visions. It is a dynamic, fast-paced module which provides a powerful base for understanding and confronting many of the challenges facing the world today.

Objectives

By the end of this module, students should have acquired:
i) a knowledge of the principal themes, ideas, terminology, theories, problems, approaches and debates in economic geography
ii) an understanding of how these themes play themselves out in contemporary conditions
iii) an appreciation of the relationship of these themes to broader developments in human geography

Learning outcomes
1. The dynamic nature of economic activity expressed geographically
2. The history of economic geography, with an emphasis on contemporary debates;
3. The geography of places and their constitution by economic processes, and the influence of places on these processes;
4. The geographies of difference and inequality with particular reference to the changing nature of urban and regional economies and policy;
5. Contemporary debates about power and conflict, innovation and exploitation, globalization and global interconnections;
6. The contribution of economic geography to development of environmental political, economic and cultural agendas, ideologies, policies and practices.

Skills outcomes
Cognitive skills
Assessment and critical evaluation of the merits of contrasting theories, explanations, policies
Critical analysis and interpretation of data and text
Developing reasoned arguments

Practical/professional skills
Collect, interpret and synthesise different types of quantitative and qualitative geographical data

Key skills
Communicate effectively (in writing, verbally and through graphical presentations)
Identify, retrieve, sort and exchange geographical information using a wide range of sources
Manage time and organise work effectively



Syllabus

The module has two halves. Semester one focuses on establishing a solid foundation in contemporary economic geography - principal themes, ideas, terminology, theories, problems, approaches and debates. It is lecture and seminar based, uses a core text and supplemental readings, and finishes with a take home exam. Semester two is studio-style, where large teams of students under the guidance of an instructor examine important problems in contemporary economic geography using the foundation in semester one. The second semester is divided into two halves, giving students an opportunity to work on two separate projects in different teams.

Teaching methods

Delivery typeNumberLength hoursStudent hours
Lecture102.0020.00
Practical82.0016.00
Seminar101.0010.00
Private study hours154.00
Total Contact hours46.00
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits)200.00

Private study

Weekly reading for seminars and lectures in semester one; revision for examination in semester one; project-based work (research, data analysis, writing, graphics, mapping, etc.) in semester two; preparation for presentation in semester two.

Opportunities for Formative Feedback

Through seminars in semester one, through the practicals in semester two.

Methods of assessment


Coursework
Assessment typeNotes% of formal assessment
ProjectGroup project report.50.00
Essay2500 words50.00
Total percentage (Assessment Coursework)100.00

Students in group projects will be divided into subgroups with clear responsibilities for the production of a component of the presentation and final report. Resit for either group project will be an individual report of 1250 words.

Reading list

The reading list is available from the Library website

Last updated: 25/04/2018

Disclaimer

Browse Other Catalogues

Errors, omissions, failed links etc should be notified to the Catalogue Team.PROD

© Copyright Leeds 2019