Final answer:
Ellen Churchill Semple is recognized for her assertion on the influence of geography on society, a concept known as environmental determinism, which states that physical environment shapes cultural and economic practices.
Step-by-step explanation:
The thinker famous for his statement on the deep influence of geography on history, economics, and consumer behavior is attributed to Ellen Churchill Semple and other proponents of environmental determinism. This geographical approach argues that environmental conditions such as climate and topography significantly shape the development of human societies and their economic systems. Semple's assertions were influential in the early 20th century although later critiqued for their deterministic view and the bigotry sometimes associated with these theories. Notably, environmental determinism has been an important concept in geographic thought, as it posits that the physical environment profoundly influences cultural development. Despite criticisms, the idea that geography can deeply affect economic behavior remains a significant topic in the field.