World Economic Geography Instructor: Dr. Truong Thi Kim Chuyen Weblog:

World Economic Geography Paul Knox (2008),The geography of the world economy, Routledge; 5th edition Neil M.Coe, Phillip F Kelly, Henry W.C. Yeung (2007), Economic Geography, Blackwell Publishing Readings: Fellmann – Getis - Getis (1998). Human Geography: Landscapes of Human Activities. Brown & Benchmark.

Course Description Course Objectives Grades  Attendance, Assignment, Seminar: 30 %  Mid-term Exam: 30 %  Final Exam: 40 % You should read the materials assigned before the class, as it will facilitate your understanding. Additional readings might be assigned throughout the quarter on special topics/issues. They will be distributed in class and/or via .

Course provides various dimensions of the world economy geography (WEG) in the age of globalization. In a world, the trend of global trade is increasingly vital, WEG is an imperative for all who wish to know what is happening to their global economy. Course gives the very basic concepts and terms in studying world economic geography. In economic aspects, it concerns:  the varied ways of people earning,  the patterns of human activities to produce,  the distributed and consumed good and services, and  the geographic framework of world trade and business. Course Description

The lectures will have a emphasis on geographic changes in the world economy. We will examine the geographic organization of economic activity around the world at different geographical scales (global, regional and local) as well as the relationship between geographic conditions and economic development in different states Course requires critical thinking on current economic and social problems from a geographic perspective. Course Description (cont.)

By the end of the course, students will be able to: Identify, describe, and explain the roles of space,place, scale, and nature in the constitution, operation, and outcome of economic processes; Analyze economic events, processes, and structures from a geographic point of view; Broadly define the economy in a way that incorporates its social, political (power), cultural, and environmental dimensions; Identify and distinguish between different analytical approaches in economic geography; differentiate relationships of economic interdependence of the states, Understand of the characteristics of transnational corporations (TNCs) and regional economic blocs. Expected outcome are able to:

Course Outline The geography of the world economy Economic Geography Conceptual foundations 01/ Conceptual foundations Page 1-25 Dynamics of economic space 02/ The changing world economy 04/ Patterns of Development and Change 05/ Services going global 03/ Commodity chains Page ’/ Technology and agglomeration Actors in economic space 10/ International and supranational institutionalized integration 06/ The state Page / The transnational corporation Page / Labour power Page / Consumption

01/ C ONCEPTUAL FOUNDATIONS Aims: To understand the assumptions used by economists in understanding the economy. To recognize the limitations of economic approaches to the economy To appreciate key concepts in economic geography

03/ C OMMODITY CHAINS – WHERE DOES YOUR BREAKFAST COME FROM ? Aims: To demonstrate how capitalism serves to conceal the conditions of commodity production To introduce commodity chains and their basic components To appreciate the differentiation of commodity chains in terms of their structure and geography To recognize the possibilities for, and limitations of, more ethical ways of organizing commodity chains

06/ T HE STATE – WHO CONTROLS THE ECONOMY : FIRMS OR GOVERNMENTS ? Aims: To understand how state and supra-national institutions shape economic process To recognize the different kinds of states within the global economy To appreciate the changing role of the state in an era of globalization To demonstrate why geographical scales matter in the reconfiguration of the state.

07/ T HE TRANSNATIONAL CORPORATION - HOW DOES THE GLOBAL FIRM KEEP IT ALL TOGETHER ? Aims: To question the claim that transnational corporations are really “global’ To understand how firms organize complex global activities To explore the variety of organizational forms used by transnational corporations To appreciate the inherent limits to the global reach of firms

08/ L ABOUR POWER – CAN WORKERS SHAPE ECONOMIC GEOGRAPHIES ? Aims: To recognize the ways in which capital’s mobility gives it bargaining power over labour To appreciate the rangr of mechanisms used by states and firms to control labour To understand the different geographical strategies that workers may use to improve their position To reflect on the possibilities for alternative or non-capitalist labour geographies

09/ C ONSUMPTION – WHO CONTROLS SPACES OF SALES AND CONSUMPTION ? Aims: To recognize the position and importance of the consumption process within the capitalist system To appreciate the changing geographies of consumption and in particular, retailing To understand how consumption spaces are actively designed and used To reflect on the ways in which consumption, place and identity are interrelated