economywhere

economywhere is a neologism used in discussions of economic analysis to denote a perspective that treats the geographical location of economic activity as central to understanding how economies function. The term combines economy with where, signaling an emphasis on place, space, and spatial relationships within economic systems. It is not a formal theory with a single consensus definition, but rather a conceptual lens applied across disciplines such as regional science, urban economics, and economic geography.

Core ideas include the integration of spatial data with traditional indicators, mapping flows of capital, labor, goods, and information across regions, and considering how place-specific factors such as infrastructure, institutions, climate, and policy regimes shape economic outcomes. economywhere also highlights the networks that connect places, including supply chains, migration, and digital platforms that enable cross-local interactions.

Applications include urban and regional planning, policy evaluation, and analysis of digital economies where activity is distributed and networked rather than concentrated in a single center. It can inform debates on regional inequalities, economic resilience, and the spatial implications of globalization and remote work. Examples cited in discussions range from regional development strategies to platform-enabled local ecosystems.

Critics note that the term is not consistently defined and risk overlapping with established fields such as economic geography and spatial econometrics. Some observers caution that invoking place-centric language can obscure broader macroeconomic forces or create ambiguous policy prescriptions. Proponents argue it draws needed attention to spatial dynamics often underrepresented in conventional models.

economywhere remains an emerging concept rather than a widely adopted framework, and its meaning can vary across authors and contexts.