Economics and Space

(3 Credit Hours) · Undergraduate

This module is an introductory course in Economic Geography that explores the contemporary insights provided by geographers researching various dimensions of economy and space. The module will present a case for the importance of geographical insights, in which economic processes are seen as embedded in particular places, in which patterns and flows of economic activity across space are recognised and explained, and in which economic spaces and scales are themselves treated as representations and social constructions. These distinctively geographical sensibilities stand in stark contrast to the popular conceptions and assumptions in economic thinking that often distort our understandings of economic lives and landscapes. You will thus be introduced to Economic Geography not as a dry discipline but as a vibrant and distinctive collection of insights into the real world around you. Based on a higly acclaimed textbook written by current and past NUS geographers, the module is designed to appeal to students who are coming to Economic Geography for the first time, while also offering depth to those more familiar with the field. In terms of style, each lecture will: (1) Be structured around debating a single question designed to stimulate your interest and curiosity; (2) Make a clear argument as to the particular insight brought to the topic in question from an economic-geographical perspective; (3) Engage with theoretical ideas and concepts; (4) Illustrate these ideas with examples, vignettes, and case studies drawn from around the world, and from a variety of economic sectors.