David Harvey

The 1973 book argues that urban geography cannot be separated from the economic structures that distribute housing, services, and opportunity. Its later sections turn explicitly toward Marxist theory to explain why spatial inequality persists.

Harvey concluded that technical spatial models could describe urban patterns without adequately explaining poverty, segregation, or political conflict. His work on Baltimore helped push him toward historical-materialist accounts of capitalism and urban change.

A spatial fix is capitalism's tendency to address crises by reorganizing investment across space, such as building infrastructure or opening new markets. The concept connects geographical expansion with the temporary absorption of surplus capital.

The Limits to Capital develops his account of capital circulation and uneven geographical development in greater depth. A Brief History of Neoliberalism is more accessible and applies his framework to political and economic changes since the late 20th century.