Economic Geography of the GCR (2017)

Economic geography focuses on studies of economic activities that incorporate spatial components, such as the location of resources and the patterns of their use. Economic geography can be conceptualized as occurring at various levels. Within a country or region it focuses on questions of the spatial and locational foundations of economic life (Scott 2000), while at the international level it focuses on understanding patterns and consequences of international trade (Krugman 2000). Krugman (2000) christens the latter ‘new economic geography’, emphasizing the need to unite new trade theory and economic geography thinking.

This study focused on the economic geography of the GCR by addressing questions that tie together these levels of analysis. Following Krugman (2000) it encompassed an exploration of the city-region’s economy and how it links with the national as well as the global economy.

The research addressed:

• theoretical, conceptual, empirical, and methodological issues about the space economy in Gauteng and its surroundings;
• contributed to economic geography debates relating to economic regions/city-regions;
• identified and empirically interrogated several internal and external drivers of change in the context of global-economic dynamics; and
• presented necessary lessons regarding which economic drivers the GCR should focus on going forward.

The study built on research conducted under the Urban Space Economy project, and helps to inform the development of the GCR that is competitive, spatially integrated, environmentally sustainable and socially inclusive.

Outputs

Publications

Cheruiyot, Koech (Editor) (2018). The Changing Space Economy of City Regions: The Gauteng City-Region, South Africa (A 10-chapter book volume). Switzerland: Springer Publishers.

Map of the month

Cheruiyot, K. & Hamann, C. (2017), ‘ Differentiating household income growth in Gauteng 2001-2011’, Map of the month October.

Presentations

Cheruiyot, Koech. (2016). ‘Testing Economic Growth Convergence and Its Policy Implications in the Gauteng City-Region’, South Africa. 2016 Regional Studies Association Annual Conference; Building bridges: Cities and Regions in a Transnational World, Karl-Franzen University, Austria 3-6 April 2016.