Economic and Social Geography

Code:

GEOGR077

Acronym:

GES

Instance: 2012/2013 - 1S

Active?	Yes
Responsible unit:	Department of Geography
Course/CS Responsible:	Bachelor in Geography

Cycles of Study/Courses

Acronym	No. of Students	Study Plan	Curricular Years	Credits UCN	Credits ECTS	Contact hours	Total Time
GEOGR	100	Study Plan . (2012/2013)	2	-	6	4
		Study Plan . Minor in History (2012/2013)	2	-	6	4
HISTO	22	Study Plan - Hist. w/ Minor in Geography	2	-	6	4
			3

Teaching language

Portuguese

Objectives

This course unit is part of the scientific area of Geography intended for the students of Geography and others with basic training in Human Geography and data analysis methods, and geographical information systems. The Economic Geography course contents are essentially theoretical. We will analyse various models and theories related to the location of economic activities, the organisation of global value chains, innovation and the development of knowledge-intensive activities, in the context of globalisation and knowledge-based economy, and the formation of clusters or concentrations of economic activities. In each of the key topics of the theoretical programme, we will review case studies in Europe, the United States of America and in other regions, particularly in new industrial spaces and regions chosen for the relocation of industries from Europe. The aim of this course unit is to help revive economic geography as a socially relevant and useful creative theme.

By the end of the semester, students must be able to:
- Discuss the dominant theories in current economic geography, with particular emphasis on spatial concentration of economic activities, their different location patterns, spatial relocation and the global integration of production chains in the context of globalisation.
- Use the theories of innovation and economic growth, as well as of society and knowledge-based economy and knowledge-intensive activities.
- Use the concept of human capital and its applicability in economic geography, linked to productivity, employment, unemployment and regional development.
- Resolve issues on production structures of different regions, as well as diagnose strengths and weaknesses in the economic base of wealthy regions and peripheral regions, of low density and high density areas.
- Assess the political implications of the issues discussed in the sessions and the extent of economic policies detached from a spatial framework.

Program

1 - Introduction to economic geography
1.1 - The epistemological course of economic geography
1.2 - The geographical perspective of economy: place, scale and location
1.3 - Paradigms of economic geography
2 - From the industrial territories to the territories of knowledge/learning
2.1 - The Fordist-Taylorist paradigm
2.2 - Post-Fordism and the era of globalisation
2.3 - Technological revolution and the new network infrastructures
2.4 - Procedures for the fragmentation of the territory
3 - Geography of innovation
3.1 - Knowledge and innovation
3.2 - The systemic perspective of innovation
3.3 - The emergence of the territory: national innovation systems
3.4 - The emergence and specialisation of regions: industrial districts, clusters, innovative environment and regional innovation systems.
3.5 - The territories of symbolic knowledge
4 - Global contrasts: a world of differences
4.1 - Global cities and region-cities: the structuring nodes of global networks
4.2 - Low density territories: characterisation, opportunities and policies

Teaching methods and learning activities

Theory classes with an expository component and discussions.
Practical classes according to project methodology.

Software

Prezi
Word, Excel, Access
Internet browser

keywords

Social sciences > Geography > Economic geography
Social sciences

Evaluation Type

Distributed evaluation with final exam

Assessment Components

Description	Type	Time (hours)	Weight (%)	End date
Attendance (estimated)	Participação presencial	54,00
	Trabalho escrito	43,00
	Exame	3,00
	Total:	-	0,00

Amount of time allocated to each course unit

Description	Type	Time (hours)	End date
	Estudo autónomo	62
	Total:	62,00

Eligibility for exams

Attendance and participation in at least 75% of teaching hours;
Passing the written tests.

Calculation formula of final grade

Theory component - 50%: final exam
Practical component - 50%: review of scientific paper done in class (10%); project (30%); presentation of project (10%).

Examinations or Special Assignments

Not applicable

Special assessment (TE, DA, ...)

In accordance with the Assessment Regulations for the 1st cycle.

Classification improvement

In accordance with the Assessment Regulations for the 1st cycle.