Geography 498, Spring 2008

University of Washington
Geography 498: Undergraduate Seminar in Economic Geography and Regional Science
Spring 2008: Defining and maintaining regional economies in a globalized world

MEETINGS
One meeting weekly: 2:30 – 5:20 p.m. Wednesdays, Smith 407.

INSTRUCTOR
Professor James W. Harrington; jwh@u.washington.edu; 416C Smith Hall; 206-616-3821; available for the hour before and the hour after class, and by appointment.

PREREQUISITES
1.   Geography 207 (Economic Geography) or Geography 208 (Geography of the World Economy)
2.   Geography 315 (Explanation and Understanding in Geography) or an analogous course in the discipline of a student majoring in something other than Geography

PREFERRED PRE- OR CO-REQUISITES
1.   Geography 326 (Quantitative Methods in Geography) and
2.   Geography 425 (Qualitative Methodology in Geography) or
3.   analogous courses in other departments

LEARNING OBJECTIVES
1.   Become conversant with major themes and frameworks of economic geography and regional science.
2.   Recognize differing routes through which academic insights can be applied empirically and practically.
3.   Apply a major question of economic geography or regional science to an empirical research issue of immediate or long-term utility.
4.   Identify and begin to overcome the challenges of designing and implementing empirical research.

ACTIVITIES; STRUCTURE OF THE COURSE
For six weeks, we'll read overviews of particular themes in economic geography or regional science, will write brief papers on these themes, and will discuss these in small groups in class.

For five weeks, students will individually prepare research questions, proposals, findings, and assessments, gaining insights from the instructor, a reference librarian, (optionally a professional connection in economic, urban, or regional planning), and each other.

ASSESSMENT
•   Quality of weekly papers (5 @ 5 points each: provide the major points of, and at least one question you have about, each reading) and small-group discussion (6 @ 2 points each): ability to interpret, synthesize, and compare authors’ approaches, intentions, and contributions. (The comparison will be a key purpose of the in-class discussions).
•   Ability to draw key themes from the assigned reading, by writing essays in class (20 points)
•   Ability to conceive a research question (10 points), devise an adequate research design (detailed plan for operationalizing the question, obtaining sufficient data, and making use of the data) (15 points), and write a cohesive proposal (10 points).
•   Student’s individual assessment of how (s)he would like to make use of economic geographic or regional science insights, questions, or tools in the future (5 points).
•   Student’s ability to assess own learning (3 points).

READINGS
RGE below refers to Remaking the Global Economy: Economic-Geographical Perspectives, edited by Jamie Peck and Henry Yeung (London: Sage Publications, 2003). Copies of this book and the Garmise and Clarke & Gaile books are available at the University Bookstore. The Garmise and Clarke & Gaile books are also on reserve at Odegaard Library. All journal articles are available as e-journals through the UW Libraries.

ASSIGNMENTS

Week One: read in class

Hudson, R. 2007. Regions and regional uneven development forever? Some reflective comments upon theory and practice. Regional Studies 41(9): 1149-1160.

Read for Week Two

RGE, Preface.
Yeung, H. and Peck, J. 2003. Making global connections: a geographer’s perspective. In RGE.
Boyce, D. 2003. A short history of the field of regional science. In Papers in Regional Science 83(1): 31-57.
Fujita, M. and Krugman, P. 2004. The new economic geography: past, present ,and the future” in Papers in Regional Science 83(1): 139-164.
Barnes, T. 2003. “What’s Wrong with American Regional Science? A View from Science Studies” by Trevor Barnes, in Canadian Journal of Regional Science 26(1): 3-26, and three brief rejoinders in the same issue.

Read for Week Four

Markusen, A. 1996. Sticky places in slippery space: a typology of industrial districts. Economic Geography 72(3): 293-313.
Scott, A. J. and Storper, M. 2003. Regions, globalization, development, Regional Studies 37: 579–593.
Glasmeier, A. and Conroy, M. 2003. Globalization: Faustian bargain, development saviour or more of the same? The case of the developing world and the emerging international trade regime. In RGE.
Porter, M.E. 2000. Location, competition, and economic development: local clusters in a global economy. Economic Development Quarterly 14(1): 15-34.

Read for Week Five

Porter, M. E. 2003. The economic performance of regions, Regional Studies 37: 549–578.
Malmberg, A. 2003. Beyond the cluster: local milieus and global connections. In RGE.
Morgan, K. 1997. The learning region: institutions, innovation and regional renewal. Regional Studies 31, 491- 503.

Read for Week Six

Dicken, P. 2003. ‘Placing’ firms: grounding the debate on the ‘global’ corporation. In RGE.
Amin, A. 2003. Spaces of corporate learning. In RGE.
Coe, N., Kelly, P., and Olds, K. 2003. Globalization, transnationalism, and the Asia-Pacific. In RGE.

Read for Week Seven (alternate students read alternate books)

Shari Garmise, S. 2006. People and the Competitive Advantage of Place: Building a Workforce for the 21st Century. Armonk, NY: M.E. Sharpe.
Clarke, S. & Gaile, G. 1998. The Work of Cities. Minneapolis: U. Minnesota Press.
Research question (with background and justification) due

Assignments for Week Eight

Markusen, A. 1999. Fuzzy concepts, scanty evidence, policy distance: the case for rigour and policy relevance in critical regional studies. Regional Studies 33(9): 869-874.
McCann, P. 2007. Observational equivalence? Regional studies and regional science. Regional Studies 41(9): 1209-1222.
In-class essay

Week Nine
Research question revised
First draft of research design

Week Ten
Second draft of research design

Exam week
In-class essays: 12:30 - 3:00 p.m. Wednesday 11 June, Smith 409
Research proposal due by 5:00 p.m. Wednesday 11 June

During the middle third of the quarter, students will refer to relevant methodological guides from Geography 315, 326, and/or 425.