James T. Murphy, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor of Geography
Graduate School of Geography
Clark University
Worcester, MA 01610-1477

email:

Dr. Jim Murphy joined the faculty as Assistant Professor in 2005. He received his Ph.D. in geography from the University of Florida in 2001, holds an M.A. degree in environmental policy from Tufts University, and has a B.S. degree in chemical engineering from Rutgers University. Prior to beginning his graduate studies, Jim designed and managed VOC abatement projects in the private sector and worked as a Peace Corps volunteer in Malawi. His post-graduate appointments have been at Salem State College and the University of Richmond. He is an economic geographer whose research examines the socio-spatial dynamics of industrial and technological change in the Global South, the efficacy and equity of economic liberalization programs, and the social, institutional, and relational dimensions of entrepreneurship, innovation, and regional development. Recent work has explored the economic geographies of innovation and the socio-spatial dynamics of industrial networks in Tanzania and Bolivia’s manufacturing sectors. In addition to these projects, Jim is interested in the processes through which more sustainable energy technologies, manufacturing systems, and land-use practices develop within and/or are diffused into developing countries. In a broad sense his work strives to promote and increase ties between researchers in development studies/geography and economic geography.

Courses Offered

Geog/ID 016 Introduction to Economic Geography
Geog 050 Africa Today: Challenges and Opportunities
Geog/ID 052 Global Change, Regional Challenges
Geog/ID 274/377 Africa's Development in Global Context
Geog/ID 364 Graduate Seminar in Economic Geography I: Origins and Classics
Geog/ID 375 Technology and Sustainability: Perspectives from the Global South

Fellowships and Awards

National Science Foundation, Geography and Regional Science Program, Research Experience for Undergraduate (REU) Supplemental Award, 2007.

National Science Foundation, Geography and Regional Science Program, Regular Research Grant, 2006.

National Science Foundation, Geography and Regional Science Program, Doctoral Dissertation Research Grant (Edward Malecki-PI), University of Florida, 1999.

Foriegn Language and Area Studies Fellowship, Center for African Studies, University of Florida, 1997-1999.

Selected Publications

Murphy, J.T., (in press) "Economic geographies of the Global South: Missed opportunities and promising intersections with development studies", Geography Compass.

Rock, M., Murphy, J.T., Rasiah, R., van Seters, P. and S. Managi (in press) "A hard slog, not a leapfrog: Globalization and sustainability transitions in developing Asia", Technological Forecasting and Social Change.

Murphy, J.T. (in press) "Transforming innovation and development practice in the Global South? Myths, realities, and the prospects for base-of-the-pyramid approaches". In Sustainability Challenges and Solutions at the Base of the Pyramid: Business, Technology and the Poor, P. Kandachar and M. Halme (eds.), Sheffield: Greenleaf.

Murphy, J.T. (2007) "The challenge of upgrading in African industries: Socio-spatial factors and the urban environment in Mwanza, Tanzania". World Development, Vol. 35, No. 10, pp. 1754-1778.

Murphy, J.T. (2006) “Representing the economic geographies of “others”: reconsidering the Global South.” Journal of Geography in Higher Education, Vol. 30, No. 3, pp. 439-448.

Murphy, J.T. (2006) “Building Trust in Economic Space.” Progress in Human Geography, Vol. 30, No. 4, pp. 427-450.

Murphy, J.T. (2006) “The socio-spatial dynamics of creativity and production in Tanzanian industry: urban furniture manufacturers in a liberalizing economy.” Environment & Planning A, Vol. 38, No. 10, pp. 1863-1882.

Murphy, J.T. (2003) “Social space and industrial development in East Africa: deconstructing the logics of industry networks in Mwanza, Tanzania,” Journal of Economic Geography, Vol. 3, No. 2, pp. 173-198.

Murphy, J.T. (2002) “Networks, trust, and innovation in Tanzania’s manufacturing sector,” World Development, Vol. 30, No. 4, pp. 491-519.

Murphy, J.T. (2001) “Making the energy transition in rural East Africa: Is leapfrogging an alternative?” Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Vol. 68, No. 2, pp. 173-193.