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The concept of "geographical location" is key to the entire system of geographical sciences.
The most important element of geographical research is the establishment and analysis of the relationships between objects located in space, which are determined precisely by their location.
Economic-geographical location (EGL) β one of the types of general geographical location β is the position of a specific economic-geographical object in relation to other objects that have economic significance for it (transport routes, state borders, settlements, sources of raw materials and energy).
The concept of "geographical location" has been known since the late 18th century, when the paradigm of geographical determinism dominated (everything is determined by nature and must be changed if it does not comply with its laws).
Classification of EGL:
- By the scale of the covered territory
- Macroeconomic location: defines the position of a country, region, or large economic area in the world or on a continent. Takes into account access to markets, sources of raw materials, transport routes, and the geopolitical situation.
- Mesoeconomic location: describes the position of a country or group of countries. Analyzes connections with neighboring regions, centers of economic activity, and transport infrastructure.
- Microeconomic location: characterizes the position of a specific city, enterprise, or other local object. Studies access to labor resources, consumers, competitors, and local transport networks.
- By the concentration of human activity objects
- Central EGL: characterizes an object located in the center of economic activity, for example, in a capital or large metropolis. Has access to markets, resources, transport routes, and political centers.
- Peripheral EGL: describes the position of an object on the periphery of economic space, far from the main centers of activity. May have difficulties accessing markets, resources, and infrastructure.
- Deep EGL: characterizes an object located deep within a country, far from the sea or borders. May have problems with transportation and access to markets.
- Excentric EGL: describes the position of an object located in a remote area, for example, on an island or in an extreme climatic zone. Has specific development features related to remoteness.
- Adjacent EGL: characterizes an object that borders other countries, regions, or economic centers. Has opportunities for the development of transit trade and cooperation with neighbors.
- By the specialization of human activity objects
- Transport-geographical location: describes the accessibility of an object to transport routes, hubs, ports, and airports. Determines the possibilities for the transportation of people, goods, and communication with other regions.
- Industrial-geographical location: characterizes the accessibility of an object to sources of raw materials, energy, labor resources, and markets for finished products. Determines the possibilities for industrial development.
- Agricultural-geographical location: describes the natural and climatic conditions that affect agriculture. Takes into account soil fertility, climate, access to water, and reclamation.
- Social-geographical location: characterizes the accessibility of an object to centers of education, science, culture, healthcare, and recreation. Determines the possibilities for the development of human capital and improvement of quality of life.
- Ecological-geographical location: describes the ecological conditions that affect the development of an object. Takes into account the level of pollution, natural risks, and access to environmentally clean resources.
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Understanding EGL by different authors
The concept of "economic-geographical location" was proposed by I. G. Alkin.
However, as a concept of economic geography theory, it was formulated only in 1929 by M. M. Baransky. More than two hundred publications are dedicated to the analysis of this category, but some important aspects of it are still insufficiently studied. The greatest contribution to its study was made by M. M. Baransky, Y. Y. Leizerovich, I. M. Mayergoiz, B. B. Rodoman, O. G. Topchiyev, and other scholars.
In the book by N. P. Oganovsky "Popular Essays on Economic Geography of the USSR" (1926)
we read: "Geographical location refers to the proximity of a given country to seas and oceans through which world trade routes pass, as well as to countries whose trade relations provide great benefits."
This definition characterizes only a certain case of EGL β both from the perspective of the object (the country in general) and exclusively from the perspective of the convenience of interstate economic relations.
N. N. Baransky believed that EGL has the greatest methodological significance: "The place occupied by any area, whether it be a country, region, city, etc. β in the system of geographical division of labor is largely determined by the economic-geographical location."
Another important point by N. N. Baransky is that EGL, like aspects of economic-geographical order, should be considered in a historical context. In other words, economic-geographical location, unlike mathematical location and physical-geographical location, is a historical category that must be defined in time.
In modern EGL, many features of the future are embedded, so studying the current position of an object means, to some extent, determining what the object may become tomorrow, that is, finding one of the components of the forecast of its development under the influence of external forces. (Sh. M. Mayergoiz)
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