Students will explore spatial patterns of economic development and will learn various models and theories which help to explain these patterns. The class will involve three exams on text and lecture material and a series of take-home assignments, including one 5-page paper. Topics will include individual decision making, firm location, industry location, and the international economy. The take-home assignmetns will will require basic skills in math, logic, and writing.
The text, Principles and Applications of Economic Geography: Economy Policy Environment, by Hanink (1997) is available at the book storeor online. The ISBN is 0471109339 . If you purchase the book in advance, find a good price at CampusBookFinder or BestBookBuys
Final grades will be determined by dividing points received by total
possible points. Grading will be as follows, unless changes are announced
in class:
| Supply/Demand. . . . . . | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | 5 |
| Breakpoint Model. . . . . | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | 5 |
| Net Present Value. . . . | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | 5 |
| Von Thunen model. . . . . | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | 5 |
| Mean Information Field | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | 5 |
| Market Potential Model | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | 5 |
| Comparative Advantage. . | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | 5 |
| . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | ||
| Probability tree. . . . . | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | 5 |
| Christaller paper. . . . | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | 15 |
| Midterm 1. . . . . . . . | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | 20 |
| Midterm 2. . . . . . . . | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | 20 |
| Midterm 3. . . . . . . . | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | 20 |
| SUBTOTAL. . . . . . . . . | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | 115 |
| Lowest of the 5-point
assignments dropped-5 |
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | -5 |
| TOTAL. . . . . . . . . . | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | 110 |
Assignments must be turned in on time or arranged otherwise. Class attendance is required. Participation in discussion is expected. Exams are not comprehensive; they cover thirds of the course. There is one written paper (3-5p plus map); both content and the quality of writing matter. When announced, some of the assignments may be done in groups; otherwise the work is to be done substantially on your own. No collaboration is allowed on the paper except for data acquisition.
SCHEDULE (subject to modification as necessary)
WEEK 1 Chapter 1: Introduction to the Study of Economic Geography;
Supply and demand assignment
Net Present Value
WEEK 2 Chapter 2: Location Principles and Land Use;
Von Thunen Assignment
WEEK 3 Chapter 3: Global Patterns of Agricultural Land Use
WEEK 4 Chapter 4: Land-Use Transition, Conflict, and Control
WEEK 5 Review and take exam
WEEK 6 Chapter 5: Resource use: Population, Technology, and Accessibility
WEEK 7 Chapter 6: Transportation and Spatial Interaction;
WEEK 8 Chapter 7: The Location of Manufacturing
Market Potential Model
WEEK 9 Chapter 8: The Location of Services
Christaller Paper assigned
Breakpoint Model
WEEK 10 Revew and take Exam
WEEK 11 Chapter 9: Urban and Regional Economic Growth;
WEEK 12 Chapter 10: International Trade: Patterns and Management
WEEK 13 Chapter 11: Economic Growth and Development: National Patterns
and Processes
No class Nov. 25, due to Thanksgiving holiday
WEEK 14
Comparative Advantage Model
Mean Information Field Assignment
No class Nov. 25, due to Thanksgiving holiday
WEEK 15 Probability Tree Assignment and review for exam
Final Exam Schedule: Tues. Dec. 13, 10-11:50
These assignments, explanations, and graphics were created by Erick
Howenstine, Geography & Env. Studies, Northeastern Illinois University
and are for exclusive use in his class Economic Geography G&ES 312
offered Fall terms. Access requires a password. They may be
used only by written permission of the author Please contact E-Howenstine@neiu.edu
.
| Explanations, Graphics and Assignments | |
| Net Present Value
The Net Present Value assignment shows students how to adjust past and future values to a common temporal base. Two methods are used -- one which measures the value of a continued stream of income, and one which accommodates changing costs and benefits for a discrete period of time. |
Von Thunen explanation
This pdf file explains the Von Thunen Model, which illustrates why land costs rise as one approaches the center of a city. Von Thunen Model in class example This in-class example uses a simple scenario with fields located various distances from Chicago. The model suggests which crops should be grown in which fields, and how this changes when factors such as price or transportation costs change. Von Thunen Take-home assignment This take-home assignment will require students to apply a simple Von Thunen scenario on a hypothetical situation in Argentina. |
| Supply and Demand
This take-home assignment requires students to apply the most simple principles of supply and demand in a naive local monopoly |
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| FOB and CIF Pricing
This handout shows the differences between two transportation pricing methods: one which charges actual travel costs and one which charges an average amount for all customers. Switching pricing methods can give one company an advantage over another, even if all other things are identical. |
Aggregate Travel and Market Potential
Model
The Aggretate Travel and Market Potential Model assignment shows how different variations of the Gravity Model can be used to find the best location under two conditions: Monopoly and Competition. This assignment uses a simple variation of these formulas. |
| Mean Information worksheet and explanation
Assignment, and Grid for plotting it and Random number table These links are used for the Mean Information Field assignment, in which students will model dispersal of something with simple assumptions. Because random events are not perfectly predictable, the resulting patterns are sometimes not what one might expect. |
Christaller Paper and an EXAMPLE
The "Christaller Paper" is a 5-page paper in which the student will describe a student-drawn map of various related services for discrete areas, probably withing the Chicago region. An example, linked, shows the kinds of thought which should go into the analysis and explanation of the patterns mapped. |
| Weber explanation
Weber's model explains why some production processes are best located near the source of raw materials, and others are better located near the market where the finished product will be consumed. |
Breakpoint, Retail Gravitation,
Competing Destinations Explanation
Assignment and Better Map for Assignment These links are used for in-class explanation of these three models, and a take-home assignment which students help to design. Each of these models uses a variation of the Gravity Model to predict the line breaking market affiliations, relative attractiveness of various markets, and relative attractiveness of many markets to many customer areas. Christaller hexagons
|
| Probability Tree Model in class
exercise
This in-class example will show students how a seemingly complicated problem can be informed with this method, leading to a risk-neutral solution that gives guidance to the decisionmaker every step of the way. This assignment is slightly altered for each student. It requires completing a probability tree which will be distributed in class. This .gif file is an inferior version of that handout. |
Comparative Advantage explanation
Comparative Advantage is a powerful explanation for trade. It shows how trade benefits all countries, even those who do not have a particular "absolute" advantage in producing anything. Comparative Advantage Assignment. |
| Review Sheet midterm 1
Review sheet for Chapters 1, 2, 3, 4 |
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| Review Sheet midterm 2
Review sheet for Chapters 5, 6, 7, 8 |
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| Review Sheet midterm 3
Review sheet for Chapters 9, 10, 11, 12 |
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| Plagiarism
Page
My study of Plagiarism at NEIU after discovering too much of it myself. Please take plagiarism seriously -- I do! |
Selected Population Links
Links to selected Population Pages of particular interest to G&ES 312 students |
Cheating, including plagiarism, may result in a failing grade for the course.
Dates:
First Day of Class: Aug. 30 Tuesday
First Exam Sept. 29 Thursday
Second Exam: Nov 3 Thursday
Last Day of Class: Dec. 8 Thursday
Final Exam: Dec. 13, 10-11:50
Holidays affecting this course: Nov 24 Thanksgiving
