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Geographical Economics versus Economic Geography: Towards a Clarification of the Dispute

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  • Caterina Marchionni

    (Erasmus Institute for Philosophy and Economics, Erasmus University Rotterdam, PO Box 1738, 3000 DR Rotterdam, The Netherlands)

Abstract

Geographical economics is a recent approach in economics aiming at introducing the ‘role of space’ into the mainstream of the discipline. Though interested in similar issues, economic geographers strongly criticise geographical economics. This paper puts such criticisms under scrutiny, taking Ron Martin's 1999 influential contribution as representative. A philosophically informed analysis of these criticisms brings forth possible misunderstandings in the dispute and hence assists both parties by making criticism and responses more incisive. If, as it seems at least in some geographers’ view, economic geographers are concerned with mechanisms and processes different from the abstract general economic mechanisms analysed by geographical economists, then complementarity between the two approaches turns out to be a possibility. This challenges both economic geographers and geographical economists because it asks them to go beyond methodological differences and establish whether the general and abstract mechanisms identified by the latter are compatible with those identified by the former. If so, further investigation on how they combine as to bring about real-world agglomeration is needed.

Suggested Citation

  • Caterina Marchionni, 2004. "Geographical Economics versus Economic Geography: Towards a Clarification of the Dispute," Environment and Planning A, , vol. 36(10), pages 1737-1753, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:envira:v:36:y:2004:i:10:p:1737-1753
    DOI: 10.1068/a36305
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Ron Martin & Peter Sunley, 1996. "Paul Krugman's Geographical Economics and Its Implications for Regional Development Theory: A Critical Assessment," Economic Geography, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 72(3), pages 259-292, July.
    2. Eric Sheppard, 2001. "How `economists' think: about geography, for example," Journal of Economic Geography, Oxford University Press, vol. 1(1), pages 131-136, January.
    3. Uskali Mäki, 2004. "Realism and the Nature of Theory: A Lesson from J H von Thünen for Economists and Geographers," Environment and Planning A, , vol. 36(10), pages 1719-1736, October.
    4. Uskali Mäki & Päivi Oinas, 2004. "The Narrow Notion of Realism in Human Geography," Environment and Planning A, , vol. 36(10), pages 1755-1776, October.
    5. repec:bla:econom:v:67:y:2000:i:267:p:307-24 is not listed on IDEAS
    6. Ann Markusen, 2003. "Fuzzy Concepts, Scanty Evidence, Policy Distance: The Case for Rigour and Policy Relevance in Critical Regional Studies," Regional Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 37(6-7), pages 701-717.
    7. Venables, Anthony J, 1996. "Equilibrium Locations of Vertically Linked Industries," International Economic Review, Department of Economics, University of Pennsylvania and Osaka University Institute of Social and Economic Research Association, vol. 37(2), pages 341-359, May.
    8. Stephen J. Meardon, 2002. "On the new economic geography and the progress of geographical economics," Chapters, in: Stephan Boehm & Christian Gehrke & Heinz D. Kurz & Richard Sturn (ed.), Is There Progress in Economics?, chapter 13, Edward Elgar Publishing.
    9. Ron Martin & Peter Sunley, 2003. "Deconstructing clusters: chaotic concept or policy panacea?," Journal of Economic Geography, Oxford University Press, vol. 3(1), pages 5-35, January.
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    Cited by:

    1. Ron A. Boschma & Koen Frenken, 2006. "Why is economic geography not an evolutionary science? Towards an evolutionary economic geography," Journal of Economic Geography, Oxford University Press, vol. 6(3), pages 273-302, June.
    2. Rahman, Jasmeen & Dimand, Robert W., 2021. "The Emergence Of Geographical Economics: At The Contested Boundaries Of Economics, Geography, And Regional Science," Journal of the History of Economic Thought, Cambridge University Press, vol. 43(2), pages 241-261, June.
    3. Uskali Mäki & Päivi Oinas, 2004. "The Narrow Notion of Realism in Human Geography," Environment and Planning A, , vol. 36(10), pages 1755-1776, October.
    4. Caterina Marchionni, 2006. "Contrastive explanation and unrealistic models: The case of the new economic geography," Journal of Economic Methodology, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 13(4), pages 425-446.
    5. Uskali Mäki, 2004. "Realism and the Nature of Theory: A Lesson from J H von Thünen for Economists and Geographers," Environment and Planning A, , vol. 36(10), pages 1719-1736, October.
    6. Juste Raimbault, 2020. "Indirect evidence of network effects in a system of cities," Environment and Planning B, , vol. 47(1), pages 138-155, January.

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