The Oxford Handbook of Economic Geography is the single most important statement of the scope and status of the vibrant interdisciplinary field of economic geography, bringing together more than forty leading economists and geographers from around the world. The volume relies upon acknowledged experts with outstanding international reputations, but also introduces readers to the academic stars of the future. It is devoted to the frontiers of the field, eschewing nostalgia for the past in favour of contributions relevant to the emerging global economy of the twenty-first century. From general statements about the history and evolution of the field to those concerning the crucial problems of economic geography, the rival theories and perspectives that have sustained its recent growth are covered in depth. As a consequence, the volume and its contributors are always provocative and challenging, and will define the terms of debate for the coming decade. The Handbook also focuses upon linkages, including those between the global and the local, between industry, location and trade, and between corporate strategy and market structure.
Relevant to industrial organization theory, labour economics, and international trade theory, it is a testament to intellectual innovation. It argues for a broad view of the field of economic geography, situating the diversity of regions and places in the context of contending theoretical perspectives. The editors have outstanding reputations for original research at the boundaries of economics and geography. They have taught in leading US and European universities, and have contributed to significant debates about the theory of economic geography and its applications to public policy. They have assembled a formidable team of experts, unmatched by any other group. This is the most comprehensive and significant statement about the value and potential of economic geography in thirty years.