Economic geography as regional contexts’ reconsidered – implications for disciplinary division of labour, research focus and societal relevance

ABSTRACT

The aim of the article is to discuss whether a definition of economic geography as contextual analysis still is viable and relevant. The author argues that the definition remains the key to the production of high quality and social relevant research. He concludes that contextual analysis represents the competitive advantage of economic geography among other social sciences and the best position to demonstrate its relevance to the broader society.

KEYWORDS:

• contextual analysis
• economic geography
• economic geography as a social science

Notes

1 The universities in Cologne and Marburg in Germany are examples from Europe. The University of Cambridge filled an economic geography position with a human geographer in 2011.