The title of this report by the IMF sounds ironic in the current climate:
Reaping the Benefits of Financial Globalization
31/03/2009
19/03/2009
Electoral map in the USA, progressivism and economic geography
Ruy Teixeira, from the Centre for American Progress, has been arguing for years that due to changes in demography, geography and attitudes the USA is heading towards a progressive majority. His latest report can be found here.
It would appear that the years between 2000 and 2008 were a refutation of his theories, but on the other hand the election of Barack Obama could indicate that these changes are finally having an impact on voting patterns! The issue however is that certain political values are likely to be more contingent than what Ruy and others have said. In the past there has been a similar discussion around post-materialism and the work of sociologists who claimed that there was a direct correlation between cultural values and economic development. The critics argued that cultural values are unstable and subject to changes in political and economic context and threfore cannot be directly correlated with development.
The interesting point nonetheless is that several polls have indeed shown that the majority of Americans believe in progressive ideas, but then classify themselves as either conservatives or moderates. This says a lot about the effectiveness of conservative propaganda but also about the failure of liberals to promote their political project. This is odd, because people already believe in progressive ideas, but are reluctant to vote for progressinve parties unless they shift to the right.
Unfortunately Economic Geographers have in my opinion been all too happy to engage in lenghty abstract discussions that say very little about how to develop a viable alternative. Deconstruction of everything and everyone certainly won't produce it. And the constant turns and twists towards new paradigms before the 'old' ones are stabilized won't either. It is probably time for a careful analysis and discussion about how our theories and models can inform a different type of policy making.
As an excellent example about how to move this reflection forward, take this article by Ron Martin on Geography and Public Policy.
It would appear that the years between 2000 and 2008 were a refutation of his theories, but on the other hand the election of Barack Obama could indicate that these changes are finally having an impact on voting patterns! The issue however is that certain political values are likely to be more contingent than what Ruy and others have said. In the past there has been a similar discussion around post-materialism and the work of sociologists who claimed that there was a direct correlation between cultural values and economic development. The critics argued that cultural values are unstable and subject to changes in political and economic context and threfore cannot be directly correlated with development.
The interesting point nonetheless is that several polls have indeed shown that the majority of Americans believe in progressive ideas, but then classify themselves as either conservatives or moderates. This says a lot about the effectiveness of conservative propaganda but also about the failure of liberals to promote their political project. This is odd, because people already believe in progressive ideas, but are reluctant to vote for progressinve parties unless they shift to the right.
Unfortunately Economic Geographers have in my opinion been all too happy to engage in lenghty abstract discussions that say very little about how to develop a viable alternative. Deconstruction of everything and everyone certainly won't produce it. And the constant turns and twists towards new paradigms before the 'old' ones are stabilized won't either. It is probably time for a careful analysis and discussion about how our theories and models can inform a different type of policy making.
As an excellent example about how to move this reflection forward, take this article by Ron Martin on Geography and Public Policy.
World Band and Economic Geography
The latest World Bank development report, that focused on Economic Geography, has been making some waves around the world. One of the main issues is that the World Bank experts have been advising countries that policies promoting the spatial distribution of wealth may hinder growth. Instead they have been arguing for policies that promote its concentration.
See as examples of reactions the following news stories:
Spreading out economic activity can hurt growth (Nepal)
Govts must promote economic integration (Nepal)
The world is not flat (India)
Governments must promote mobility of people: World Bank (India)
In news.google.com you can search for more as this is only a sample.
Also I add a story not directly linked with this report but still reflecting on the new geography of work in India and the importance of urbanization:
India's new geography of work
If you prefer academic work The Cambridge Journal of Regions, Economy and Society published a special issue entitled: 'The World is not Flat; Putting Globalisation in its Place' in November 2008. It can be accessed here, although you'll need a subscription to read the articles.
See as examples of reactions the following news stories:
Spreading out economic activity can hurt growth (Nepal)
Govts must promote economic integration (Nepal)
The world is not flat (India)
Governments must promote mobility of people: World Bank (India)
In news.google.com you can search for more as this is only a sample.
Also I add a story not directly linked with this report but still reflecting on the new geography of work in India and the importance of urbanization:
India's new geography of work
If you prefer academic work The Cambridge Journal of Regions, Economy and Society published a special issue entitled: 'The World is not Flat; Putting Globalisation in its Place' in November 2008. It can be accessed here, although you'll need a subscription to read the articles.
11/03/2009
Conference
The Spatial Economics Research Centre is holding its first annualconference at the London School of Economics on 7th/8th May 2009, withthe first half of the programme being devoted to selected papers by postgraduates working in this field.
Submissions (of 500 word abstracts) are invited now, to I.R.Gordon@lse.ac.uk, for receipt by 3rd April. The selected presenters will be invited to both days of the conference, with financial supportfor travel/accommodation.
More information here.
Submissions (of 500 word abstracts) are invited now, to I.R.Gordon@lse.ac.uk, for receipt by 3rd April. The selected presenters will be invited to both days of the conference, with financial supportfor travel/accommodation.
More information here.
04/03/2009
The geography of a recession
In the New York Times today, a map with the unemployment rates across the USA.
02/03/2009
Congress on the Geography of Europe
The Slovak Geographical Society, Faculty of Sciences, of the Comenius University in Bratislava and the Institute of Geography of the Slovak Academy of Sciences in Bratislava organise the EUGEO 2009, the second Congress on the Geography of Europe. The aim of the EUGEO 2009 is to attract geographers and related professionals from around Europe and create a forum stimulating discussion about research, education, accomplishments, and developments in geography.
The EUGEO Congress 2009 will be held on August 13 - 16, 2009 in Bratislava, Slovakia. More information on http://gis.fns.uniba.sk/eugeo2009.
The EUGEO Congress 2009 will be held on August 13 - 16, 2009 in Bratislava, Slovakia. More information on http://gis.fns.uniba.sk/eugeo2009.
The changing fame of economists
It'll be interesting to see whether current changes in economic fashion will remain after the crisis, or if after a few years all will have been forgotten and the 'Friedmanites' will take control again. But for the moment it is reinvigorating to see the rebirth of 'old fashioned' economists. John Keynes and Hyman Minsky were among the first to be remembered, but others are now coming to the fore. Notice for instance this article on James Tobin, the famous proponent of the 'Tobin Tax' on financial markets.
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