Economic Geography Lecture Notes 2024-2025 PDF

ECONOMIC GEOGRAPHY Dr. Khoudjia HOUHOU 2024-2025  Lesson 01: Branches of Economic Geography  Branches of EG Branches of EG Resource Agriculture Industrial Transport Marketing Geography Geo...

ECONOMIC GEOGRAPHY Dr. Khoudjia HOUHOU 2024-2025  Lesson 01: Branches of Economic Geography  Branches of EG Branches of EG Resource Agriculture Industrial Transport Marketing Geography Geography Geography Geography Geography 1) Resource Geography 1) Resource Geography: Resource geography is related to the study of resources, their extraction, distribution, production, utilization, and conservation. It includes the study of both natural resources and human resources.  1) Resource Geography: Mini-case study: Exploring extreme resource extraction methods A. Mining in Space: A. Mining in Space: Asteroid Mining: One of the most futuristic and strange extraction methods involves mining asteroids. Asteroids are believed to contain valuable metals like platinum, gold, and rare earth elements. Companies like Planetary Resources and governments, including NASA, are researching the feasibility of extracting these materials in space. It involves sending robotic missions to asteroids to mine resources, which could then be transported back to Earth or used in space for construction and fuel. B. Deep-Sea Mining: B. Deep-Sea Mining: Polymetallic Nodules on Ocean Floors: Mining on the ocean floor, thousands of meters below the surface, targets polymetallic nodules, which are small, potato-sized mineral formations rich in manganese, copper, nickel, and cobalt. These nodules are often found in unexplored areas of the ocean, such as the Clarion-Clipperton Zone in the Pacific Ocean. Giant machines are sent down to collect these nodules, often raising environmental concerns about the destruction of deep-sea ecosystems. C. Tar Sands Extraction (Oil Sands) Canada’s Oil Sands: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AuSJSRL4sjA C. Tar Sands Extraction (Oil Sands) Canada’s Oil Sands: Extracting oil from tar sands in Canada involves massive machinery that digs up huge amounts of sand soaked in bitumen (a heavy type of oil). The sand is then processed to separate the bitumen, which can be refined into synthetic crude oil. This process is incredibly energy-intensive and water-consuming, requiring hot water or steam to separate the oil from the sand, and it leaves behind large tailing ponds with toxic waste. D. Sulfur Extraction from Volcanoes D. Sulfur Extraction from Volcanoes D. Sulfur Extraction from Volcanoes Volcanic Sulfur Mining in Indonesia: In Indonesia, sulfur is manually extracted from inside active volcanoes. In places like the Ijen Volcano, miners descend into the crater to collect bright yellow sulfur deposits formed by volcanic gases. They do this with minimal protective gear, often carrying heavy loads of sulfur back up the crater on foot. The conditions are extremely dangerous due to the toxic gases and the unstable volcanic environment. E. Bioleaching (Bacterial Mining) Using Microbes to Extract Metals: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aSb5PNwrRx0 E. Bioleaching (Bacterial Mining) Using Microbes to Extract Metals: Bioleaching is a technique where certain bacteria are used to extract metals like copper and gold from ores. These microbes feed on the minerals in the rock, breaking them down and freeing the metals. This method is used when traditional mining would be too expensive or environmentally damaging. It is particularly useful in low-grade ore mining, where the metal content is not high enough to justify standard mining. 2) Agriculture Geography 2) Agricultural geography: Agricultural geography focuses on the spatial patterns and processes of agricultural activities, including the production, distribution, and consumption of agricultural goods. It examines how agriculture is influenced by and, in turn, influences physical and human environments. 2) Agricultural geography: Examples A. Soil Fertility and Agriculture: Examples: The rich volcanic soils of places like Java (Indonesia) or Hawaii are highly fertile and support intensive farming of crops like rice, sugarcane, and coffee. However, the thin, sandy soils in the Sahel region of Africa are less fertile, limiting agricultural productivity. B. Water Availability and Irrigation: Example: Irrigation in egypt https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HE89JWKMROI B. Water Availability and Irrigation: Example: In Egypt, the Nile River is the primary source of water for agriculture in an otherwise arid desert region. Irrigation systems allow for the cultivation of crops such as wheat, cotton, and dates. Without irrigation, farming would be impossible in such dry conditions. 3) Industrial Geography 3) Industrial Geography: Industrial geography focuses on the spatial distribution of industries. It examines how industrial processes (production, distribution, etc) are geographically organized and how they affect and are affected by various geographic factors such as resource availability, transportation networks, labor, and markets. 3) Industrial Geography: mini-case studies A) Special Economic Zones (SEZs) Example: SEZ in Shenzhen, China Shenzhen was designated as China's first Special Economic Zone in 1980, with policies designed to attract foreign investment, promote exports, and develop industrial manufacturing. It rapidly transformed from a small fishing village into one of the world’s largest manufacturing and technology hubs, home to companies like Huawei and Tencent. B) Industrial Relocation: Textile Manufacturing to Bangladesh Many Western countries have relocated their textile and garment industries to countries like Bangladesh, where labor is cheaper. Factories in Dhaka, Bangladesh, produce clothing for global brands like H&M, Zara, and Nike. The low labor costs, along with favorable trade agreements, have made Bangladesh a global hub for textile manufacturing. 4) Transport Geography 4) Transport Geography: Transport geography focuses on the spatial aspects of transportation systems their networks, and how they interact with human activities, the environment, and economic processes. It examines how the movement of people, goods, and information is organized across space and how it is affected by geographic factors such as urbanization, globalization, and environmental concerns. 4) Transport Geography: mini-case studies A) Transportation Networks: The Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T) The TEN-T is an ambitious EU project aimed at improving transportation infrastructure across Europe. It connects major cities via roads, railways, airports, and waterways to promote trade, economic cohesion, and regional integration. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TtHMc-r7gmI B) Modes of Transportation: Panama Canal: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1NwvCj9CMuw B) Modes of Transportation: Panama Canal: The Panama Canal is a key waterway that connects the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, facilitating global maritime trade. It dramatically reduces the shipping time and costs for goods moving between the two oceans, particularly between Asia and the east coast of the Americas. 5) Marketing Geography: 5) Marketing Geography: Marketing geography is a new branch of economic geography that studies the spatial variations and spatial organization in marketing activity. It focuses on how geographic factors influence consumer behavior and how marketing is influenced in terms of consumer behavior, market segmentation, distribution strategies, and the overall marketing strategy of businesses. It involves the analysis of geographic locations and their cultures too. 5) Marketing Geography: Marketing geography of a multinational fast-food chain: let's say McDonald's, expanding its operations into a new country, such as India. In this scenario, marketing geography plays a crucial role in the company's success by considering various geographic factors: 5) Marketing Geography: Menu Customization: Recognizing that Indian consumers have diverse dietary preferences and cultural considerations, McDonald's tailors its menu to suit local tastes. They introduce products like vegetarian options, such as the McAloo Tikki burger, which aligns with India's predominantly vegetarian culture. 5) Marketing Geography: Advertising and Promotion: Marketing geography helps McDonald's design targeted advertising campaigns that consider regional differences. They may use local languages, cultural references, and imagery that resonate with specific geographic areas within India. THANK YOU