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Agency and Structure in Regional Development: In Search of a Social Science Research Programme

Author

Listed:
  • Grillitsch, Markus

    (CIRCLE, Lund University)

  • Sotarauta, Markku

    (Tampere University)

Abstract

As a concept, agency stretches from philosophical and meta-theoretical elaborations to studies documenting largely idiosyncratic happenings in a particular empirical context, which could be dismissed as anecdotal. In between, and source for the recent revival of scholarly interest, lies the promise to explain transformation processes, multiplex governance, and varieties in wellbeing and development pathways, which are needed in a world overshadowed by crises. Have studies on agency and structure lived up to the promise? Only partly, we argue, and suggest that we need to develop a common ontological commitment as well as adequate mid-range theories and methods coherent with such a commitment. We suggest critical realism as backbone of such a common ontological commitment and discuss potential ways forward for a social science research programme with emancipatory potential, this is to say to contribute to our capabilities to make a difference in the world.

Suggested Citation

  • Grillitsch, Markus & Sotarauta, Markku, 2023. "Agency and Structure in Regional Development: In Search of a Social Science Research Programme," Papers in Innovation Studies 2023/14, Lund University, CIRCLE - Centre for Innovation Research.
    • Handle: RePEc:hhs:lucirc:2023_014
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Markus Grillitsch & Bjørn Asheim & Michaela Trippl, 2018. "Unrelated knowledge combinations: the unexplored potential for regional industrial path development," Cambridge Journal of Regions, Economy and Society, Cambridge Political Economy Society, vol. 11(2), pages 257-274.
    2. Danny MacKinnon & Stuart Dawley & Andy Pike & Andrew Cumbers, 2019. "Rethinking Path Creation: A Geographical Political Economy Approach," Economic Geography, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 95(2), pages 113-135, March.
    3. Huiwen Gong & Robert Hassink & Cassandra C Wang, 2022. "Strategic coupling and institutional innovation in times of upheavals: the industrial chain chief model in Zhejiang, China [Institutional change in economic geography]," Cambridge Journal of Regions, Economy and Society, Cambridge Political Economy Society, vol. 15(2), pages 279-303.
    4. Gillian Bristow & Adrian Healy, 2014. "Regional Resilience: An Agency Perspective," Regional Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 48(5), pages 923-935, May.
    5. Robert Huggins & Piers Thompson, 2023. "Human agency, network dynamics and regional development: the behavioural principles of new path creation," Regional Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 57(8), pages 1469-1481, August.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Agency and structure; regional development; path development; critical realism; social science methodology;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • R00 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - General - - - General
    • R10 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - General Regional Economics - - - General
    • R50 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - Regional Government Analysis - - - General

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