Natural Resources, Agricultural Products, Land Use and Water Use

The other analysis that is crucial to the Economic Geography school of thought, which should be read in conjunction with the Geography section. A country with great agricultural land has natural advantages. If it can feed itself it will not need to buy that product from other countries, reducing import needs. Furthermore if it has an abundance of agricultural products, it can generate export revenues. Energy is almost as vital as food in the industrialised world, so countries with oil or gas reserves (and to an extent coal), such as the OPEC nations are assured foreign exchange revenues and influence (although since oil is paradoxically a curse, they are also assured troubled). Countries such as Canada, Australia and many African countries, blessed with iron ores and other metal deposits will have similar advantages. In the coming renewable energy age, countries with lots of sun, fast flowing rivers, regular wind and geothermal energy may also enjoy advantages.