Chapter Overview
Why we buy, where we buy, and how consumption patterns shape economic landscapes.
This chapter explores consumption as a geographic phenomenon. We examine how consumer behavior varies across space, why retail and consumption spaces are organized the way they are, and how consumption practices shape and are shaped by place. Understanding consumer geography helps us analyze everything from shopping mall development to the geographic spread of consumer culture.
Chapter Resources
Required Reading
- Textbook: Chapter 7 Coe, Kelly & Yeung (2019)
- Economic Geography: A Contemporary Introduction
Download Slides
Video Content
- Multiple lecture sections
- Consumption and place
- Watch at your own pace
Video Lectures
Section 7.1: The Geography of Consumption ~15 minutes
Introduction to consumer geography: why consumption matters and how it varies across space.
Section 7.2: Retail Landscapes ~15 minutes
How retail spaces are organized geographically, from downtown shopping districts to suburban malls to e-commerce.
Section 7.3: Consumer Culture & Place ~15 minutes
How consumption practices create and reflect place identities, and the globalization of consumer culture.
Section 7.4: Ethical Consumption & Alternatives ~15 minutes
Fair trade, local food movements, and other alternative consumption practices with geographic dimensions.
Key Takeaways
Consumer Fundamentals
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Consumption is not just an economic act but a social and cultural practice
- Consumer preferences and behaviors vary significantly across places
- Retail landscapes reflect and shape patterns of consumption
- E-commerce is transforming but not eliminating the geography of retail
Key Concepts
- Consumer Culture: Shared meanings and practices around consumption
- Retail Geography: The spatial organization of shopping and commerce
- Commodity Chains: Connections between production and consumption places
- Ethical Consumption: Consumer choices based on social/environmental values
- Food Deserts: Areas with limited access to affordable, healthy food
Discussion Questions
Consider these questions as you watch the lectures and complete the readings:
- How do your own consumption practices reflect your geographic location and identity?
- How has online shopping changed the retail landscape in your community?
- What factors influence where retail businesses choose to locate?
- Can individual consumer choices really make a difference in addressing global problems?
- How do consumption patterns differ between urban, suburban, and rural areas?