Module Catalogue 2023/24

Pre Requisite Comment

None

Co Requisite Comment

None

Aims

1.       To connect students with the research strengths and long tradition of economic geography research at Newcastle University, including the work of the internationally renowned Centre for Urban and Regional Development Studies: www.ncl.ac.uk\curds. Working together, staff at Newcastle represent one of the largest and most internationally prominent groups of economic geographers operating in Europe and beyond.
2.       To provide students with an introduction into the theoretical base of contemporary economic geography research.
3.       To provide students with an understanding of a broad range of dynamics within economic space, including spatial circuits of value and uneven development: geographies of money and finance: regulatory geographies; geographies of innovation and knowledge; geographies of commodity chains; retail geographies; and the geographies of nature and economy.
4.       To introduce and critically analyse a range of key factors in economic space including the state; Transnational corporations; labour and the workforce.
5.       Illustrate these ideas with examples and case studies drawn from around the world and from a variety of economic sectors.
6.       To build on concepts introduced at stage 1 in economic geography and a topical understanding of an interconnected world.
7.       To better understand the policy–relevance of economic geography research

Outline Of Syllabus

Lectures covering the following areas:

PART I Intro and theoretical foundations of Economic Geography
PART II Key Actors
PART III Core domains
PART IV Dynamics

Seminars will explore these topics in more depth, including through case studies

Intended Knowledge Outcomes

By the end of the course students will be able to:
•       Understand the meanings of the economy and different geographical approaches to its study
•       Understand theoretical debates regarding the nature and geographies of the economy and uneven development
•       Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of different dynamics, institutions and actors/ agents and their geographic and economic constitution and expression
•       Understand the complex economic relationships between production, circulation and consumption as they affects firms, workers, regions and nations
•       Be able to critically evaluate, drawing upon a broad range of case studies, the role of geography in understanding the economic and uneven development
•       To develop a critical understanding of the role of policy, government and governance in shaping the geography of the economy, across a variety of scales and locations.

Intended Skill Outcomes

•       Proven comprehension of the processes through which the economy is geographically constituted and expressed
•       Ability to engage critically with case study and other empirical material concerned with the dynamics, actors and sites of the economy
•       Ability to present clear and reasoned arguments concerning abstract, theoretical debates concerning economic geographical thought and practice
•       Ability to set a topic in its wide context and produce a written essay that demonstrates understanding and ability to synthesis and cite sources in a systematic manner
•       Ability to analyze the complexity of the economy and its processes through a geographical perspective

Teaching Rationale And Relationship

Lectures introduce, develop and illustrate theories and empirical material relating to different economic geographies and their dynamics.

Small group teaching sessions combine specialist video illustrations of case studies with an opportunity for more interactive, student-led discussion, analysis and presentation of relevant material.

Opportunities for Q&A will be provided through one-on- one consultation via Microsoft Teams or Zoom.

Assessment Rationale And Relationship

The 1600 word essay tests students’ ability to explore subjects in-depth, demanding critical reading and writing skills and an ability to gather and synthesise material.

The final research essay tests students broad understanding of the key concepts introduced in the module while offering flexibility for innovative responses through research.

General Notes

N/A