Social and Economic Geography

Human geography describes and analyses the use of resources, industry, urban forms, social patterns and life forms in different geographical environments based on the physical, economic and social processes that create and recreate society's spatial patterns.

People's activities affect places and regions, and factors of distance, environment and resources affect patterns of behaviour. These are fundamental issues in both education and research in human geography. Communities are analysed at different scales, from the local (including both relationships between the individual and his/her environment and municipal planning issues) to the global, covering topics such as migration, economic globalisation and international environmental problems. Questions concerning sustainable development occupy a central place within human geography.

The human geographer often puts current social issues at the forefront, e.g. analysis of the relationship between developed countries and developing countries, or relationships between individuals, organisations and businesses. But studies of places and regions can also be conducted from a humanistic perspective, where issues of culture, identity and situatedness receive attention. Other key areas for the human geographer are studies of environmental problems, resource use and ecosystems.