In: Economics
Human geography is concerned with the distribution and networking of people and communities on Earth's surface. A human geographer may examine the local , regional and global effects of China and India's rising economic forces, which account for 37% of the world's population. They should also look at how consumers in China and India are adjusting to new technology and markets, and how businesses respond to such a large customer base.
Human geographers are now researching how people use and change their environments. For example , when people allow their animals to overgraze the area, the soil is eroded and the grassland is turned into a desert. The effect of overgrazing on the environment as well as on agricultural growth is a field of research for human geographers.
The key divisions within human geography reflect concerns about various forms of human behaviors or ways of life. Definitions of human geography include urban geography, economic geography, cultural geography, political geography, social geography and population geography. Human geographers who research spatial trends and processes in the past are part of the sub-discipline of historical geography. Many who research how people interpret maps and spatial space are part of a sub-discipline known as behavioral geography.
Some human geographers are concentrating on the connection between human health and geography. Health geographers, for example , create maps that chart the location and spread of particular diseases. We examine the regional inequalities in access to health care. They are also interested in the influence of the environment on human health , in particular the effects of environmental threats such as asbestos, lead poisoning or water contamination.