抄録
As an important interdisciplinary field integrating geography and economics, trade geography focuses on the spatial distribution characteristics of trade activities and their driving mechanisms, serving as a crucial tool for understanding global and regional economic development patterns. This paper systematically reviews the theoretical framework of trade geography, including spatial economics, location theory, comparative advantage theory, and economic globalization theory. It provides an in-depth analysis of global and regional trade patterns' main characteristics and formation mechanisms. Based on this, the paper examines the impacts and underlying mechanisms of key factors such as natural resource distribution, transportation network layout, policy environment, and technological progress on trade geography patterns. The paper further highlights research hotspots and frontier areas in trade geography, including the evolution of regionalization trends in the context of globalization, practices of green trade and sustainable development, the constraints and reshaping of trade flows by geopolitics, and the profound influence of the digital economy on traditional trade geography patterns. Through case studies, it demonstrates the application of geographic research in areas such as regional economic integration, logistics network optimization, and the construction of free trade zones, revealing the practical value of trade geography in promoting regional economic coordination and international economic cooperation. This paper aims to provide a comprehensive review of the current state of trade geography, offer a scientific outlook on future research directions, and advance the further development of the discipline’s theories and practices.
