Do You Know Principles of Economic Geography Intuitively?

by Kathleen Braden

Many people ask what differentiates Economic Geography as a discipline from Economics or Political Economy. The key is the factor of location. Principles and theories of Economic Geography are always built around the added cost or value that is created by location in space. Many people just by observation have an inherent understanding of these patterns. For example, if you are familiar with the Seattle area or Wa. State, take this little quiz. Which five statements do you already know are “wrong”? If you guess correctly, you have surmised many of the models built by Economic Geographers to explain location of economic activities. Answers next time on the blog!

1. We went to Alderwood Mall and bought clothes at Macy’s.

2. The Baskin & Robbins is in lower Queen Anne across from the Bartell’s.

3. Boeing is building a new factory two blocks from the Space Needle to make its 787 Dreamliner planes.

4. In Coulee City out in Grant County, the town tavern is right next to the Assembly of God church.

5. It’s handy now that there is a Best Buy on Nickerson next to the university bookstore because their computer supplies are cheaper.

6. My favorite manicurist has a little shop out on Aurora next to the teriyaki place you like.

7. I bought some tee-shirts at Target and the tag said they were made in Indonesia.

8. The tallest skyscraper in the greater Seattle area is in downtown Edmonds.

9. The Polo Ralph Lauren factory outlet store is downtown at 5th and Pike.

10. We drove across the North Cascades Highway to Winthrop and bought a new set of dinner plates at the Anthropologie Store.

11. At that intersection in north Seattle there is a Union 76 station, a Chevron, and a Shell station all across from each other.

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–Kathleen Braden

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