Entry requirements

Fulfilment of the requirements for a Bachelor´s degree, from an internationally recognised university. Proficiency in English equivalent to the Swedish upper secondary course English 6.

Learning outcomes

Upon completion of the course, the student should be able to:

• demonstrate a thorough understanding of influential theories in economic geography and critically explain their relationships, differences, and complementarities;
• explain how knowledge, innovation, and learning processes influence economic development across different scales, and how these dynamics shape spatial patterns of growth;
• analyse the drivers behind geographically uneven development, with particular attention to how economic activities are shaped by place, space, and global flows;
• independently identify, formulate, and analyse complex research questions within the field of economic geography, drawing on appropriate theories and empirical material;
• critically examine and interpret how innovation processes and knowledge dynamics contribute to global and regional economic transformations;
• prepare, present, and discuss academic literature and their own work in an academically rigorous and constructive manner, demonstrating clear communication skills in both oral and written formats;
• critically assess the societal and spatial implications of uneven development including the geography of economic opportunities across different places and scales;
• reflect on their own learning and scholarly approach, demonstrating an awareness of how theoretical choices influence interpretations of economic phenomena.

Content

Grounded in contemporary debates within economic geography, the course focuses on how knowledge shapes innovation processes and how these, in turn, affect global economic development. A central focus is the persistent problem of geographically uneven development and the mechanisms through which certain regions, cities, and sectors emerge as winners while others face stagnation or decline. The course examines the role of firms, states, communities, and other actors in influencing economic trajectories, shaping innovation systems, and attempting to mitigate or reinforce spatial inequalities. Moreover, the course critically examines competing understandings of what drives economic development and how “the economy” itself is conceptualized.

Throughout the course, students engage with theoretical perspectives and empirical cases that are relevant for academic research and for professional fields such as business analysis, policy-making, and urban and regional planning. Emphasis is placed on connecting conceptual insights to real-world economic challenges and understanding how economic geography offers perspectives for interpreting and shaping economic development.

Instruction

The course is primarily organised around lectures and seminar-based teaching. Lectures introduce key conceptual debates and theoretical frameworks, while seminars provide opportunities for critical discussion, collaborative analysis, and application of concepts to empirical cases. Active participation in seminars is mandatory.

Assessment

The course is examined through written and oral assignments. Detailed information on the marking criteria and the assessments is provided during the course introduction.

Students who have been granted pedagogical support through the university’s disability coordinator may, where appropriate, be offered alternative forms of examination. Decisions regarding alternative forms of examination are made by the examiner with consideration of the student’s individual needs and in accordance with university regulations.

Uppsala University upholds principles of academic integrity. All students are expected to complete their work independently and to acknowledge sources appropriately. Suspected cases of cheating or plagiarism are handled in accordance with the university’s established procedures and may be referred to the Vice-Chancellor for review.