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Regional Growth Paths: From Structure to Agency and Back

Author

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  • Grillitsch, Markus

    (Lund University)

  • Sotarauta, Markku

    (University of Tampere)

Abstract

The study of regional growth paths is a key theme in economic geography and of elemental interest for policy makers concerned with regional development. Evolutionary theory explains the path-dependent nature of regional development, and points to its open-ended nature. This paper addresses the interplay between path-dependent, structural forces and the construction and utilization of opportunities through agentic processes. Extending to the evolutionary framework, it is argued that not only history but also perceived future opportunities influence agentic processes in the present and thus shape regional growth paths. Building on recent work about foresightful, strategic and distributed agency, this paper identifies three forms of agency, Schumpeterian innovative entrepreneurship, institutional entrepreneurship and place leadership, that call for and necessitate each other in the process of shaping regional growth paths. It is argued that such a holistic view is essential to understand regional development processes and in particular structural change as manifested in economic diversification and new industrial path development.

Suggested Citation

  • Grillitsch, Markus & Sotarauta, Markku, 2018. "Regional Growth Paths: From Structure to Agency and Back," Papers in Innovation Studies 2018/1, Lund University, CIRCLE - Centre for Innovation Research.
    • Handle: RePEc:hhs:lucirc:2018_001
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    3. Michaela Trippl & Simon Baumgartinger-Seiringer & Alexandra Frangenheim & Arne Isaksen & Jan Ole Rypestøl, 2019. "Green path development, asset modification and agency: towards a systemic integrative approach," PEGIS geo-disc-2019_01, Institute for Economic Geography and GIScience, Department of Socioeconomics, Vienna University of Economics and Business.
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    6. George Papamichail & Alessandro Rosiello & David Wield, 2023. "Addressing Public Policy Implementation Challenges in Lagging Regions Through the Analytical Lens of Smart Specialisation," Journal of the Knowledge Economy, Springer;Portland International Center for Management of Engineering and Technology (PICMET), vol. 14(1), pages 356-381, March.
    7. Bjørn T. Asheim & Arne Isaksen & Michaela Trippl, 2019. "The Role of the Regional Innovation System Approach in Contemporary Regional Policy: Is it still relevant in a Globalised World?," PEGIS geo-disc-2019_12, Institute for Economic Geography and GIScience, Department of Socioeconomics, Vienna University of Economics and Business.
    8. Strambach, Simone & Pflitsch, Gesa, 2020. "Transition topology: Capturing institutional dynamics in regional development paths to sustainability," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 49(7).
    9. Grillitsch, Markus & Nilsson, Magnus, 2019. "The Role of Trust in Regional Development," Papers in Innovation Studies 2019/8, Lund University, CIRCLE - Centre for Innovation Research.
    10. Shuaijun Xue & Robert Hassink, 2021. "Combinatorial knowledge bases, proximity and agency across space: the case of the high-end medical device industry in Shanghai," PEGIS geo-disc-2021_04, Institute for Economic Geography and GIScience, Department of Socioeconomics, Vienna University of Economics and Business.
    11. Collins Patrick, 2020. "Who makes the city? The evolution of Galway city," Administration, Sciendo, vol. 68(2), pages 59-78, May.
    12. Simon Baumgartinger-Seiringer & David Doloreux & Richard Shearmur & Michaela Trippl, 2021. "When history does not matter? The rise of Quebec’s wine industry," PEGIS geo-disc-2021_05, Institute for Economic Geography and GIScience, Department of Socioeconomics, Vienna University of Economics and Business.
    13. Danny Mackinnon & Stuart Dawley & Andy Pike & Andrew Cumbers, 2018. "Rethinking Path Creation: A Geographical Political Economy Approach," Papers in Evolutionary Economic Geography (PEEG) 1825, Utrecht University, Department of Human Geography and Spatial Planning, Group Economic Geography, revised Jun 2018.
    14. Edurne Magro, 2022. "Revisiting the Nexus between Industrial Policy and Regional Economic Resilience in an Era of Grand Societal Challenges," Hacienda Pública Española / Review of Public Economics, IEF, vol. 243(4), pages 101-122, December.
    15. Chlebna, Camilla & Mattes, Jannika, 2019. "When the novelty fades – Socio-technical, spatial and temporal dimensions of regional energy transitions," Papers in Innovation Studies 2019/6, Lund University, CIRCLE - Centre for Innovation Research.
    16. Simon Baumgartinger-Seiringer & Johan Miörner & Michaela Trippl, 2019. "Towards a stage model of regional industrial path transformation," PEGIS geo-disc-2019_11, Institute for Economic Geography and GIScience, Department of Socioeconomics, Vienna University of Economics and Business.
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    18. Merli Reidolf & Martin Graffenberger, 2019. "How local resources shape innovation and path development in rural regions. Insights from rural Estonia," Journal of Entrepreneurship, Management and Innovation, Fundacja Upowszechniająca Wiedzę i Naukę "Cognitione", vol. 15(3), pages 131-162.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Regional development; agency; path-dependency; Schumpeterian innovative entrepreneurship; institutional entrepreneurship; place leadership; economic diversification; new industrial path development;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • B52 - Schools of Economic Thought and Methodology - - Current Heterodox Approaches - - - Historical; Institutional; Evolutionary; Modern Monetary Theory;
    • L16 - Industrial Organization - - Market Structure, Firm Strategy, and Market Performance - - - Industrial Organization and Macroeconomics; Macroeconomic Industrial Structure
    • O30 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - General
    • R10 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - General Regional Economics - - - General

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