Economic Geography and Regional Economics
Study Board of Political Science, Journalism, Sociology, and European Studies
Teaching language: English
EKA: B300212402
Censorship: Second examiner: None
Grading: 7-point grading scale
Offered in: Soenderborg
Offered in: Spring
Level: Bachelor
Course ID: B300212401
ECTS value: 10
Date of Approval: 06-10-2020
Duration: 1 semester
Course ID
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Aim and purpose
The world is becoming increasingly connected as a result of trade, political and cultural exchanges. Yet, the benefits of increased globalization have not been shared equally across the regions. What makes regions competitive? Why are cities more innovative than others? How do borders affect human flows and ideas? The aim of this course is to explore these questions by studying the causes and consequences of uneven development within and between regions. The course provides a general introduction to economic geography and regional economics, two closely-related sciences that examine how human societies make use of space through their economic activities and how economic activities are organized at the regional level.
Content
The course critically discusses the fundamental concepts and theories developed in economic geography and regional economics to understand uneven economic development across the world. From a methodological perspective, the course also introduces the students to several approaches used to represent, describe and analyse territorial and economic processes. These tools are first applied to understand the factors that shape economic processes, such as the Industrial Revolution or Globalization. The course then examines the variety of economic agents, such as firms and states, who actively engage in territorial economic transformations. In a third part, the course focusses on the main drivers of change, such as innovation, entrepreneurship or accessibility, that can explain why some regions or cities growth faster than others. Finally, the course considers the territorial consequences of uneven development for local societies, firms and regions and discusses possible territorial policies that can contribute to reduce disparities.
Description of outcome - Knowledge
At the end of the course, the students will be able to reflect on the major drivers of territorial change observed across the world using a variety of concepts and theories developed in geography and economics.
Description of outcome - Skills
The course will allow the students to find relevant data pertaining to the evolution of cities, regions and countries, organize the data into tables, maps, or graphs, and apply their knowledge of the spatial economy to describe, analyse and compare major trends across regions.
Description of outcome - Competences
The students will be able to compare several territorial policies and evaluate their potential impact on local economic development.
Literature
- Textbook: To be announced. For example, Dicken, P. 2015. Global Shift. Mapping the Changing Contours of the World Economy. Seventh Edition. New York, Guilford Press.
- Supplementary articles from scientific journals and policy reports are provided by the instructor.
Teaching Method
The course includes lectures, classroom discussions, workshops, and case studies. Students are expected to prepare before class, read the chapters assigned to each class, and actively participate in discussions
Workload
Scheduled classes
4 hrs per week in 15 weeks.
Workload
The educational activities are summed up in the following way:
Lectures: 60
Preparation: 120
Assignments (5 per semester): 60
Exam including preparation: 30
Total 270
Examination regulations
Examination
Name
Examination
Timing
Exam: June
Reexam: August
The course is being phased-out and is taught for the last time in spring 2021. As enrollment is binding please be advised that the University will automatically enroll you for all of the three exam offers. Students who have previously had exam attempts in this course will automatically be enrolled in their remaining exam attempts. The following exams are offered:
1st offer: June 2021
2nd offer: August 2021
3rd offer: June 2022
Tests
Exam
Name
Exam
Form of examination
Take-home assignment
Censorship
Second examiner: None
Grading
7-point grading scale
Identification
Student Identification Card - Exam number
Language
English
Duration
Date for submission will appear from the examination plan.
Length
Maximum size for the term paper is 15 pages including bibliography, title page, and appendixes.
Examination aids
All exam aids are allowed.
Assignment handin
Hand-in via Digital Exam.
ECTS value
10
Additional information
Written report in which students apply some of the most fundamental concepts discussed in class to a region of their choice. This is an individual paper. Each student must choose a different region. The most crucial aspect of the paper is to be able to identify a geographical concept, such as gentrification or local economic development, that can explain the recent economic development of a region. The paper should include an introduction that formulates an explicit research question, a literature review that explains how the concept(s) have been addressed by other scholars so far, an empirical section in which the students apply the concept to their region, a conclusion, and a bibliography which must contain several scientific articles or books.
Please note that the type and form of the re-examination may differ from that of the ordinary examination, e.g. from written to oral examination.
EKA
B300212402
External comment
NOTE - This course is identical with the former course Economic Geography and Regional Economics, id: 9858301
Used examination attempts in the former identical course will be transferred.
Courses that are identical with former courses that are passed according to applied rules cannot be retaken.
Exchange students, if any: Internal grading. Assessment as for ordinary students.