The Geography of the World Economy by Paul Knox; John AgnewReview by: P. A. WoodThe Geographical Journal, Vol. 156, No. 3 (Nov., 1990), p. 339Published by: The Royal Geographical Society (with the Institute of British Geographers)Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/635544 .

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REVIEWS REVIEWS 339 339

The Geography of the World Economy. By PAUL KNOX and JOHN AGNEW. London: Edward Arnold, 1989, 410 pp. ?12.95 (pbk). ISBN 0 7131 6517 0

This is an impressive achievement. Through the presentation of a huge amount and variety of empirical evidence, the authors manage to convey the flavour, as well as the content of modern economic geography's approach to world development issues. The key, of course, is a coherent theoretical perspec- tive. Setting aside the conventional division between literature on 'economic development' and that on location trends in industrialized societies, a 'political economy' approach is favoured, based on an analysis of the evolution of the current global economic order. This goes back to pre-industrial foundations, and the subsequent evolution of the industrial core regions, including Japan and the communist world. Moving to the current period, the account is also notably up to date in its discussion of post-industrial modes of organization, including such issues as the new inter- national division of labour, the significance of high technology industries and changing political attitudes towards the role of the state since the 1970s.

Different interpretations of the influence of location on development are, on the whole, treated fairly and in a non-doctrinaire fashion. For example, both neoclassical and structuralist models of regional economic change are castigated for neglecting the historical and dynamic circumstances that make local conditions so widely variable and unpredictable. The authors' own historical perspective is intended to demonstrate the influence of spatial factors such as interaction and diffusion on the evolution of the world economic system, rather than focusing on such traditional, static locational themes as agglomeration and accessibility.

The third part of the book discusses the spatial transformation of the less-developed periphery in detail, again building upon an historical account of the evolution of Western influence. The neglect of agriculture in setting economic priorities, and the rural poverty that seems to grow with commercializa- tion are cogently explored. Apparently enhanced rates of peripheral industrialization in some countries are clearly linked to the problems of the world industrial core, and the limits to this process are fully discussed. Here, as elsewhere, useful case studies of individual countries are employed to demonstrate the processes clearly.

Finally, contemporary political responses are explained, emphasizing the changing role of the nation state, both in relation to the emergence of transnational organizations and the growth of inter- nal regionalism, decentralization and separatism. The style of the book, although clear, makes few con- cessions to the uninitiated in its presentation of social,

The Geography of the World Economy. By PAUL KNOX and JOHN AGNEW. London: Edward Arnold, 1989, 410 pp. ?12.95 (pbk). ISBN 0 7131 6517 0

This is an impressive achievement. Through the presentation of a huge amount and variety of empirical evidence, the authors manage to convey the flavour, as well as the content of modern economic geography's approach to world development issues. The key, of course, is a coherent theoretical perspec- tive. Setting aside the conventional division between literature on 'economic development' and that on location trends in industrialized societies, a 'political economy' approach is favoured, based on an analysis of the evolution of the current global economic order. This goes back to pre-industrial foundations, and the subsequent evolution of the industrial core regions, including Japan and the communist world. Moving to the current period, the account is also notably up to date in its discussion of post-industrial modes of organization, including such issues as the new inter- national division of labour, the significance of high technology industries and changing political attitudes towards the role of the state since the 1970s.

Different interpretations of the influence of location on development are, on the whole, treated fairly and in a non-doctrinaire fashion. For example, both neoclassical and structuralist models of regional economic change are castigated for neglecting the historical and dynamic circumstances that make local conditions so widely variable and unpredictable. The authors' own historical perspective is intended to demonstrate the influence of spatial factors such as interaction and diffusion on the evolution of the world economic system, rather than focusing on such traditional, static locational themes as agglomeration and accessibility.

The third part of the book discusses the spatial transformation of the less-developed periphery in detail, again building upon an historical account of the evolution of Western influence. The neglect of agriculture in setting economic priorities, and the rural poverty that seems to grow with commercializa- tion are cogently explored. Apparently enhanced rates of peripheral industrialization in some countries are clearly linked to the problems of the world industrial core, and the limits to this process are fully discussed. Here, as elsewhere, useful case studies of individual countries are employed to demonstrate the processes clearly.

Finally, contemporary political responses are explained, emphasizing the changing role of the nation state, both in relation to the emergence of transnational organizations and the growth of inter- nal regionalism, decentralization and separatism. The style of the book, although clear, makes few con- cessions to the uninitiated in its presentation of social,

economic, political and theoretical issues. It would, however, provide a challenging text for second year undergraduates, and a valuable source of material, when used and interpreted by teachers at other levels.

P. A. WOOD

Counterurbanization: the Changing Pace and Nature of Population Deconcentration. Edited by A. G. CHAMPION. London: Edward Arnold, 1989, 266 pp. ?27.00. ISBN 0 7131 6614 2

The flight of people from large cities is not new. Beginning in Victorian times it was progressively extended from the early twentieth century by mass transportation systems of train, tramway then road. What is new about the progressive loss of population experienced by all large cities of the Western World since the 1950s is their massive migrational losses and overall population decline, involving not only the cores but also the outer suburbs. In most cases this was accompanied by massive job losses, especially in manufacturing, and the relative decline of many services hitherto regarded as the preserve of central metropolitan areas. This and the reversal of popula- tion decline in rural areas beyond the suburbs, often in relatively remote areas, and gains of people and jobs led to the view in the early 1970s that cities were experiencing a new phenomenon; rather than further extension of suburbanization, decentralization and urban sprawl, they were moving into an era of counterurbanization, perhaps even de-urbanization.

In his introduction the editor outlines clearly the facts that have led to the concept and the varying tendencies in the 1980s that have caused critics to suggest that the urban to rural movement that characterized the 1960s and 70s was an extension of urban-focused regionalism rather than the beginning of a process of de-urbanization. He reviews the possible interpretations of such trends in a balanced assessment of the problems of both analysis and conceptualization. These add to the breadth and consistency of the plan followed in subsequent chapters, though the focus on patterns of change rather than on causes and mechanisms points to one of the main problems in the literature of counter- urbanization to which this book, despite its care and breadth of analysis, is not immune.

The pattern followed, broadly, in each of the studies of the United States, Australia, the UK, Norway, Denmark, Federal Germany, France, Italy and Japan which make up the empirical core of the book adds greatly to its overall strength and value. Within the framework of the particular circum- stances of the individual country and constraints in data (mainly from population censuses) each study outlines the overall pattern of urban population change and its components, especially migration.

economic, political and theoretical issues. It would, however, provide a challenging text for second year undergraduates, and a valuable source of material, when used and interpreted by teachers at other levels.

P. A. WOOD

Counterurbanization: the Changing Pace and Nature of Population Deconcentration. Edited by A. G. CHAMPION. London: Edward Arnold, 1989, 266 pp. ?27.00. ISBN 0 7131 6614 2

The flight of people from large cities is not new. Beginning in Victorian times it was progressively extended from the early twentieth century by mass transportation systems of train, tramway then road. What is new about the progressive loss of population experienced by all large cities of the Western World since the 1950s is their massive migrational losses and overall population decline, involving not only the cores but also the outer suburbs. In most cases this was accompanied by massive job losses, especially in manufacturing, and the relative decline of many services hitherto regarded as the preserve of central metropolitan areas. This and the reversal of popula- tion decline in rural areas beyond the suburbs, often in relatively remote areas, and gains of people and jobs led to the view in the early 1970s that cities were experiencing a new phenomenon; rather than further extension of suburbanization, decentralization and urban sprawl, they were moving into an era of counterurbanization, perhaps even de-urbanization.

In his introduction the editor outlines clearly the facts that have led to the concept and the varying tendencies in the 1980s that have caused critics to suggest that the urban to rural movement that characterized the 1960s and 70s was an extension of urban-focused regionalism rather than the beginning of a process of de-urbanization. He reviews the possible interpretations of such trends in a balanced assessment of the problems of both analysis and conceptualization. These add to the breadth and consistency of the plan followed in subsequent chapters, though the focus on patterns of change rather than on causes and mechanisms points to one of the main problems in the literature of counter- urbanization to which this book, despite its care and breadth of analysis, is not immune.

The pattern followed, broadly, in each of the studies of the United States, Australia, the UK, Norway, Denmark, Federal Germany, France, Italy and Japan which make up the empirical core of the book adds greatly to its overall strength and value. Within the framework of the particular circum- stances of the individual country and constraints in data (mainly from population censuses) each study outlines the overall pattern of urban population change and its components, especially migration.

This content downloaded from 128.235.251.160 on Fri, 19 Dec 2014 09:18:13 AMAll use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions