Places, humanity and businesses
Geography as an important tool for understanding social and economic evolution
The meaning, history, role and culture of a company’s production depend not only on the people behind it, but also on its location. Geography is therefore an important factor for businesses, as it is for all other human endeavours, even today in the digital age where relationships are increasingly dematerialised. Studying geography from this perspective is therefore an important step in understanding social and economic activities, as Marco Percoco attempts to demonstrate his recently published book, ‘Il potere dei luoghi. La rivincita della geografia per capire la società’ (The power of places. The revenge of geography to understand society).
Percoco views geography not as a mere map, but as an intricate network of economic, social, and human relationships that influence the development of places. The book explores how geography can have a profound influence on growth trajectories, from migration and urban sprawl to health and the environment. Percoco uses stories and case studies to bridge the gap between theory and reality, taking us from the Val d’Agri to the Walser communities of Monte Rosa and from the malaria that struck Fausto Coppi to migrations from southern to northern Italy. The author demonstrates that space is not merely a container, but an active element that influences economic and social opportunities.
Therefore, geographical space, but also historical and social space. Percoco argues that history teaches us that territorial gaps are not simply reduced by moving people, but by understanding local specificities. Real cases are again used to illustrate this point, from the social capital of communities such as Arcidosso, to the consequences of extractive resource exploitation, and the impact of transport infrastructure on migration dynamics. Marco Percoco’s book thus takes on the features of a journey, revealing how development depends on enhancing the resources of each territory — human, natural, or institutional. However, ‘Il potere dei luoghi’ also represents another breakthrough: an innovative interpretation of contemporary inequalities that encourages us to look beyond geographical boundaries and imagine new growth and welfare strategies for all. Among many important passages, readers should note this one towards the end of the book: ‘Managing an area economically no longer means only creating new jobs with an effective industrial policy. A modern vision must be accompanied by strategic management of resources, from human capital to entrepreneurial and natural capital.’
Il potere dei luoghi. La rivincita della geografia per capire la società
Marco Percoco
EGEA, 2025
Geography as an important tool for understanding social and economic evolution
The meaning, history, role and culture of a company’s production depend not only on the people behind it, but also on its location. Geography is therefore an important factor for businesses, as it is for all other human endeavours, even today in the digital age where relationships are increasingly dematerialised. Studying geography from this perspective is therefore an important step in understanding social and economic activities, as Marco Percoco attempts to demonstrate his recently published book, ‘Il potere dei luoghi. La rivincita della geografia per capire la società’ (The power of places. The revenge of geography to understand society).
Percoco views geography not as a mere map, but as an intricate network of economic, social, and human relationships that influence the development of places. The book explores how geography can have a profound influence on growth trajectories, from migration and urban sprawl to health and the environment. Percoco uses stories and case studies to bridge the gap between theory and reality, taking us from the Val d’Agri to the Walser communities of Monte Rosa and from the malaria that struck Fausto Coppi to migrations from southern to northern Italy. The author demonstrates that space is not merely a container, but an active element that influences economic and social opportunities.
Therefore, geographical space, but also historical and social space. Percoco argues that history teaches us that territorial gaps are not simply reduced by moving people, but by understanding local specificities. Real cases are again used to illustrate this point, from the social capital of communities such as Arcidosso, to the consequences of extractive resource exploitation, and the impact of transport infrastructure on migration dynamics. Marco Percoco’s book thus takes on the features of a journey, revealing how development depends on enhancing the resources of each territory — human, natural, or institutional. However, ‘Il potere dei luoghi’ also represents another breakthrough: an innovative interpretation of contemporary inequalities that encourages us to look beyond geographical boundaries and imagine new growth and welfare strategies for all. Among many important passages, readers should note this one towards the end of the book: ‘Managing an area economically no longer means only creating new jobs with an effective industrial policy. A modern vision must be accompanied by strategic management of resources, from human capital to entrepreneurial and natural capital.’
Il potere dei luoghi. La rivincita della geografia per capire la società
Marco Percoco
EGEA, 2025