To go along with our current poll on “Economic Environment” we want to focus on one factor: geographic advantages. What are geographic advantages and disadvantaged? How can and in what way do cities benefit from geographic advantages? We found answers to these questions in a study by Kathy Benson which deals with the development of cities and the geographic factors that influence them.

The development of cities throughout the world is influenced by geographic features. Each feature offers advantages and disadvantages to the settlement of large groups of people. Most cities are located where there are more geographic advantages than disadvantages. The boundary between two different features, for example where mountains meet the flat lands or where land meets the sea, may offer the advantages of both features. These locations offer opportunities for people to develop trade and industry.
Although there are other geographic features, some of the most important features that influence the growth of cities are the following:

[read more…]