2019/20 Undergraduate Module Catalogue

GEOG2035 Geographies of Economies

20 creditsClass Size: 185

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

Taught: Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) View Timetable

Year running 2019/20

This module is 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
iv) key skills in critical reading, research and writing

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 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 core texts and supplemental readings, and finishes with a take home exam.

Teaching methods

Delivery type	Number	Length hours	Student hours
Lecture	10	2.00	20.00
Seminar	10	1.00	10.00
Private study hours			170.00
Total Contact hours			30.00
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits)			200.00

Private study

Weekly reading for seminars and lectures; reading, research and revision for take-home exam at the end of semester one

Opportunities for Formative Feedback

Through seminars.

Methods of assessment

Coursework

Assessment type	Notes	% of formal assessment
Written Work	Take-home exam 3500 words	100.00
Total percentage (Assessment Coursework)		100.00

Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated

Reading list

The reading list is available from the Library website

Last updated: 07/05/2019

Disclaimer

Browse Other Catalogues

• Undergraduate module catalogue
• Taught Postgraduate module catalogue
• Undergraduate programme catalogue
• Taught Postgraduate programme catalogue

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