ABSTRACT

The last four decades have seen major changes in the global economy, with the collapse of communism and the spread of capitalism into parts of the world from which it had previously been excluded. Beginning with a grounding in Marxian political economy, this book explores a range of new ideas as to what economic geography can offer as it intersects with public policy and planning in the new globalised economy.

Approaches to Economic Geography draws together the formidable work of Ray Hudson into an authoritative collection, offering a unique approach to the understanding of the changing geographies of the global economy. With chapters covering subjects ranging from uneven development to social economy, this volume explores how a range of perspectives, including evolutionary and institutional approaches, can further elucidate how such economies and their geographies are reproduced. Subsequent chapters argue that greater attention must be given to the relationships between the economy and nature, and that more consideration needs to be given to the growing significance of illegal activities in the economy.

The book will be of interest to students studying economic geography as well as researchers and policy makers that recognise the importance of the relationships between economy and geography as we move towards a sustainable future economy and society.

chapter 1|22 pages

Setting the scene

Steps towards a geographical political economy

chapter 2|25 pages

Conceptualising economies and their geographies

Spaces, flows and circuits

chapter 3|17 pages

‘The learning economy, the learning firm and the learning region’

A sympathetic critique of the limits to learning

chapter 4|23 pages

From knowledge-based economy to … knowledge-based economy?

Reflections on changes in the economy and development policies in the north east of England

chapter 5|18 pages

Re-thinking change in old industrial regions

Reflecting on the experiences of north east England

chapter 6|15 pages

Global production systems and European integration

De-regionalising, re-regionalising and re-scaling production systems in Europe

chapter 7|19 pages

Life on the edge

Navigating the competitive tensions between the ‘social’ and the ‘economic’ in the social economy and in its relations to the mainstream

chapter 9|21 pages

Cultural political economy meets global production networks

A productive meeting?

chapter 11|17 pages

Resilient regions in an uncertain world

Wishful thinking or a practical reality?