Economic Geography
         Spring 2004

Economics 4389, Section 04288   Thomas R. DeGregori
Time: MW 2:304 PM       Office: 209D M
Room 108 M      Office hrs. MW. 11:30 AM1 PM
         or by appointment
         Email: trdegreg@uh.edu

Required Reading

Nancy Birdsall et al. eds  Population Matters: Demographic Change, Economic
Growth, and Poverty in the Developing World, Oxford University Press paperback.
Thomas R. DeGregori  The Environment, Natural Resources and Modern
Technology, Iowa State Press paperback.
Thomas R. DeGregori  Origins of the Organic Agriculture Debate, Iowa State
Press.
Meera Nanda - Prophets Facing Backward, Rutgers University Press.

Pick One Topic According to Region of Interest

Asia -Barbara Weighman  Dragons and Tigers: A Geography of South, East and
Southeast Asia  John Wiley paperback and Asian Development Outlook 2003 -
Oxford University Press paperback.

Latin America and the Caribbean  Brian and Olwyn Blouet  Latin America and
the Caribbean: A Systematic and Regional Survey  John Wiley paperback and
Luc Ferry -The New Ecological Order, University of Chicago paperback.

Africa - April A. Gordon and Donald L. Gordon (ed.)  Understanding
Contemporary Africa  Lynne Rienner paperback and  African Development
Report 2003 - Oxford University Press paperback.

Vaclav Smil  Cycles of Life: Civilization and the Biosphere,  Scientific
American Library: Distributed by W.H. Freeman and Co., paperback (for
Europe and students without a region) and Luc Ferry -The New Ecological
Order, University of Chicago paperback.

Topics for papers

1) "Natural" Resources  What are they?
2) Globalization and its Implications for region of your choice.
3) Geography and Development in _____  Region of your choice
4) Agriculture and Biotechnology or Geography Matters? How it Matters or
Technology and Economic Geography for your region.

Topics. On topics 1 & 2, do papers of between 5 to 8 pages with a total of
about 10 to 15 pages. The third and fourth papers should be between 10 to
20 pages. For each of the topics, more information on what is required will
be made available in class during the semester.

Students wishing to sign up for an additional one or two hours credit as a
special problems course may make arrangement with the instructor to do
additional papers.

This course may also be taken as a special problems course for 1 or 2 hours
credit or for graduate credit. You sign-up for it any time up to February
1, 2004. For special problems, please see Marion Foley in 208B M. For
students taking an incomplete, final due date for all papers is May 1,
2005. No exceptions! For students wanting their grade recorded on the class
role sheet, all papers are due in by the next to last day of class.
Students taking the course for 1 hour credit will do one 10 to 15 page
paper. Students taking it for 2 hours credit, will do one 20 to 25 page
paper. Graduate students will do two papers of 10 and 30 to 40 pages each.
Please see me for details and assignment.

Students taking the course for 1 hour credit will do one 10 to 15 page
paper. Students taking it for 2 hours credit, will do one 20 to 25 page
paper. Graduate students will do two papers of 10 and 30 to 40 pages each.
Please see me for details and assignment.

The syllabus is available and posted October 2003 to allow students who
wish to do so, to begin the research for their papers.

ALL PAPERS MUST INCLUDE SUBSTANTIVE REFERENCES TO THE ASSIGNED MATERIAL.
ALL MATERIAL PRESENTED MUST HAVE A SOURCE. THE FINAL PAPER MUST ALSO
INCLUDE ADDITIONAL MATERIAL FROM RESEARCH IN THE LIBRARY OR THE WWW. HYPER
LINKS TO SOME OF THE MOST IMPORTANT SITES ARE PROVIDED ON MY HOME PAGE
(http://www.uh.edu/~trdegreg). PLEASE GIVE AS COMPLETE A CITATION AS
POSSIBLE INCLUDING THE URL WHEN CITING AN INTERNET SOURCE. SUPPLEMENTARY
INSTRUCTIONS ARE POSTED ON MY HOMEPAGE. YOU ARE REQUIRED TO FOLLOW THESE
INSTRUCTIONS. THERE IS NO EXCUSE FOR FAILING TO DO SO AND MAY RESULT IN
HAVING YOUR PAPERS RETURNED MARKED REDO OR WORSE.