About Us

Center for Economic and Socio-Spatial Transformation Research focuses on examining profound changes in the social and economic structures of a region. Based on such assessments, more effective policies and strategies can subsequently be formulated to address the challenges and opportunities arising from socio-economic transitions in spatial terms. The core problematics addressed by this cluster concern how patterns of social inequality emerge amidst societal change, technological transformation, industrialization, urbanization, and an increasingly interconnected world driven by globalization. Research within this cluster emphasizes the approaches of humanistic geography and cultural geography, which provide a unique perspective in synthesizing how these transitions affect space, place, and human life, as well as how humans serve as a reflection of their living environment. The scope of studies within this cluster encompasses a diverse range of contemporary issues, particularly in developing countries, related to: lifestyle changes, urbanism, spatial competition, urban development disorientation, adaptation and resilience, social inequality, environmental governance, public health, poverty pockets, urban blight, quality of life, place meaning and attachment, and local innovation and creativity.