Chapter Overview
The role of networks in economic geography, from supply chains to social networks.
This chapter explores how economic activity is organized through networks that connect people, firms, and places across space. We examine different types of networks—from global production networks and supply chains to social and knowledge networks—and analyze how network position shapes economic outcomes for firms, workers, and regions.
Chapter Resources
Required Reading
- Textbook: Chapter 4
- Coe, Kelly & Yeung (2019)
- Economic Geography: A Contemporary Introduction
Download Slides
Video Content
- Multiple lecture sections
- Network analysis
- Watch at your own pace
Video Lectures
Section 4.1: Introduction to Network Thinking ~15 minutes
What are networks and why do they matter for economic geography? Understanding nodes, ties, and network structures.
Section 4.2: Global Production Networks ~15 minutes
How goods are produced through complex networks spanning multiple countries. Understanding value chains and the geography of production.
Section 4.3: Knowledge Networks & Innovation ~15 minutes
How knowledge flows through networks and why proximity still matters for innovation in the digital age.
Section 4.4: Network Power & Governance ~15 minutes
Who controls networks and how does network position translate into economic power? Lead firms, gatekeepers, and network governance.
Key Takeaways
Network Fundamentals
- Networks connect economic actors across space through various types of relationships
- Network position (central vs. peripheral) shapes access to resources and opportunities
- Global production networks organize the creation of goods across multiple countries
- Both physical infrastructure and social relationships constitute economic networks
Key Concepts
- Nodes & Ties: The basic building blocks of network analysis
- Global Value Chains: The sequence of activities required to produce goods
- Embeddedness: How economic action is shaped by network relationships
- Network Governance: How power and control operate within networks
- Upgrading: How firms and regions move to higher-value positions in networks
Discussion Questions
Consider these questions as you watch the lectures and complete the readings:
- What networks are you personally embedded in, and how do they shape your economic opportunities?
- How has the COVID-19 pandemic revealed vulnerabilities in global production networks?
- Why might a firm's position in a network matter more than its individual capabilities?
- How do digital technologies change the geography of networks and connectivity?
- What strategies can regions use to improve their position in global production networks?