Economic and Social Geography reviews developments in the study of economic and social geography and brings together in a single volume work which is dispersed in many specialist textbooks. An attempt has been made to achieve a balance between oversimplification and over-elaboration, and to present essential concepts in a clear, concise manner.
The book contains 25 chapters organized into five parts. Part One deals with the study of economic and social geography, including approaches to the study of human geography and environmental perception and behavior. Part Two on population geography covers topics such as population geography, population change, and population growth. Part Three on economic geography includes discussions of transportation, agriculture, and mineral resources. Part Four on settlement geography examines urbanization, the internal structure of towns and cities, and rural settlement. Part Five is devoted to urban and rural planning, problems of economic development, and resources.
This book, together with its companion volume, Physical Geography Made Simple, should be of value to a variety of people. First, to those who are coming to academic geography for the first time, especially to those studying for GCE Advanced Level or ONC/OND examinations. It should also provide a concise introduction to first-year courses in further and higher education, including degree courses with a geography component, HNC/HND, and Certificate in Education courses.

Contenu

Foreword
Part One: The Study of Economic and Social Geography
1 Man and Environment
Current Approaches to Human Geography
Man and Environment
Conclusion
Suggested Further Reading
2 Environmental Perception and Behavior
Environmental Perception
Environmental Preferences
Evaluating the Environment
Decision-Making and Behavior
Perception and Planning
Conclusion
Suggested Further Reading
3 Spatial Organization
Spatial Patterns
The Spatial Environment
Conclusion
Suggested Further Reading
4 Theory in Human Geography
Applying the Methods of Science
Conclusion
Suggested Further Reading
Part Two: Population Geography
5 Population Distribution
Sources of Population Data
World Distribution of Population
Influences on Population Distribution
Measures of Population Density and Distribution
Conclusion
Suggested Further Reading
6 Components of Population Change
Fertility
Mortality
Migration
Conclusion
Suggested Further Reading
7 Population Composition
Age Structure
Sex Composition
Ethnic Composition
Occupational Structure
Conclusion
Suggested Further Reading
8 Population Growth
Population Projections and Estimates
World Population Growth
Population Growth: Attitudes and Interpretations
Population and Resources
Conclusion
Suggested Further Reading
Part Three: Economic Geography
9 Transport: Adjusting Space by Reducing Economic Distance
Transport Costs and Economic Distance
Conclusion
Suggested Further Reading
10 Transport: Flows and Networks
Flow Theory
The Development of the Network of Interchange
Current Flows of International Trade
Network Analysis
Conclusion
Suggested Further Reading
11 Agriculture: Process and Pattern
Physical Influences on Agriculture
Social and Economic Influences on Agriculture
The Pattern of World Agriculture
Conclusion
Suggested Further Reading
12 Agriculture: Theory and Analysis
A Theory of Agricultural Location
Game Theory
The Diffusion Of Innovation
Classification and Regionalization
Conclusion
Suggested Further Reading
13 Mineral Resources and their Exploitation
The Mode of Occurrence of Minerals
Factors Influencing Mining Activity
The Effects of Mining on Landscape
Conclusion
Suggested Further Reading
14 Energy Resources: Fuel and Power
Energy Consumption and Standards of Living
Capital and Income Energy
Sources of Supply and Demand
The Transport of Energy
Choosing an Energy Supply
Conclusion
Suggested Further Reading
15 The Location of Industry
Finding the Location of Industry
Explaining the Location of Industry
The Dynamic Element in Location
Conclusion
Suggested Further Reading 1
16 Industrial Location Theory
The Search for Order
Order and Theory
Finding the Optimum Location
Location and Behavior
Conclusion
Suggested Further Reading
Part Four: Settlement Geography
17 Urbanization
What is a Town?
The City in History: Origins and Dispersals
Modern Accelerated Urbanization
The Pre-Industrial City
The Classification of Towns and Cities
Conclusion
Suggested Further Reading
18 The Size and Spacing of Cities
The Rank-Size Rule
The Law of the Primate City
Urban Hierarchies
Central Place Theory
Conclusion
Suggested Further Reading
19 The Internal Structure of Towns and Cities
The Land Value Surface
The Central Business District
Residential Areas
Industry in the City
Theories of Urban Structure
Conclusion
Suggested Further Reading
20 City and Region
The Urban Economic Base
Delimitation of the Urban Field
The Size and Shape of Urban Fields
Relationships between Urban Fields
Urban Fields and Local Government Boundaries
Conclusion
Suggested Further Reading
21 Rural Settlement and Society
Aspects of Village Settlement Study
Rural Depopulation
Urbanization of Rural Settlements
Conclusion
Suggested Further Reading
Part Five: Geography and Planning
22 Urban and Rural Planning
Urban Planning
Rural Planning
Conclusion
Suggested Further Reading
23 Problems of Economic Development: Differences Between Countries
Regional Inequalities
Regional Analysis
Regional Policy: Why Governments Intervene
Regional Policy: How Governments Intervene
Regional Policy in Britain
Conclusion
Suggested Further Reading
24 Problems of Economic Development: Differences Between Countries
Differences between Countries
Developing the Underdeveloped Countries
Conclusion
Suggested Further Reading
25 The Problem of Resources
The Nature of Resources
The Problem of Supply and Demand
The Problem of Waste and Pollution
Planning Resource Use
Conclusion
Suggested Further Reading
Index