Figure 1 - uploaded by Robert Hassink
Content may be subject to copyright.
The position of evolutionary and relational economic geography in the pedigree of
Source publication
Economic geographers have recently been confronted with attempts to constitute both relational and evolutionary economic geography. The two proposed paradigms have much in common, such as the perception of space as being socially constructed instead of a pre-given entity with causal powers. Until now, however, astonishingly little has been written...
Context in source publication
Context 1
... some extent, relational economic geography, given its strong links to sociology, is on the path moving away from economics, whereas evolutionary economic geography, given its strong link to evolutionary economics, has taken the path back into the direction of economics (Figure 1). Moreover, functionally, relational economic geography can be considered as an attempt to bring existing concepts in economic geography under one roof, whereas evolutionary economic geography aims at introducing existing theoretical notes in evolutionary economics into economic geography in order tackle key questions of economic geography. ...
Citations
... REG 起源于 20 世纪末 Allen、Massey 等推动的地理学的"关系转向" [31] ，并由 Bathelt, Glückler, Yeung 等学者系统整理和推广 [32][33] 。这里的"关系"是指，个人、企业、组织等能 动主体的行为互动网络及其所根植的政治、经济、社会和文化关系，其表现形式有权力、 网络嵌入性、主体能动性和不同尺度下的人际网络 [33] 。关系转向认为，地方本身并不能为 其动态演化提供一个逻辑自洽的解释，而应将地方以及地方的不同主体放在跨地方的关系 网络之中，探讨本体和关系之间的互塑关系 [34] 。首先，REG 以关系为核心，重点关注主体 的行动和相互作用如何塑造不同尺度的经济景观。因经济主体具有能动性，其行动和相互 作用的程度和性质不被事先假定，而是分析的对象 [35] 。其次，REG 关注个人、企业、政府 和组织等主体在政治、经济、社会、文化、技术情境中的位置和嵌入性，尤其是引入尺度 的视角，强调跨尺度情境下的社会能动性和关系资产对地方重构的作用，摆脱了 EEG 以企 业和区域尺度为核心的单一分析视角 [15,36] 。与将地方视为"固定"空间的传统视角不同， REG 将地方视为"流动"的、颇具复杂"关系"的空间，因而并不首要关注任何一个地理尺度, 而是着重考察不同地理尺度之间的关系以及这种关系所导致的空间问题。 在这一视角下可以看到，旅游地本身是一个复杂的地域系统，并不仅被旅游业所定义， 而是具有复杂的历史沉积，嵌于多尺度的经济、社会和文化关系 [37] 。其演化是由全球、国 家、区域、企业等多重尺度力量相互耦合下共同驱动的，是不同经济、社会和文化分层不 断叠写的过程 [38] 。REG 既强调微观主体的作用，又关注跨尺度情境间的相互影响，其多元 地理尺度融合的分析框架，在解释外生力量和多元主体对旅游地演化的推动作用上，提供 了一种开放视角。但是，当下 REG 尚极少应用于旅游研究，多元能动主体和跨尺度情境塑 造和重构旅游景观的机制尚需更多理论探讨和实证研究 [17][18] [39][40] ，在解释产业空间演化以及区域增长或衰退的结构变化过程和机制等问题上优势互 补 [30,[40][41] 。EEG 强调演化和区域内部的组织变迁，对关系和跨地方机制的关注有限；REG 强调地理过程的跨地方性和多尺度性，虽关注区域短期演化动态，但不涉及对区域长时间 缓慢演化路径的考察。前者重点考查内部自组织对地方经济演化的影响，后者则以多地理 尺度上的经济变化过程，以及其中的主体实践及其相互作用作为研究核心。前者强调历史， 关注演化的动态发展过程；后者虽亦讨论演化和路径依赖，却相对更关注截面上的空间模 式，较少关注时间轴向的过程。旅游地演化是一个多元综合的过程。对于旅游地演化仅考 察新奇和地区的根植性等内生动力是不充分的，同样仅关注基于不同尺度下的能动主体所 构成的关系网络也是不充分的 [11,37] 。胡晓辉等指出，REG 中的多层次视角能够结合"多分 析单元"和"多地理尺度"两种优势，系统阐释老工业区重构中"宏观情境变迁-中观产业转型-微观行为动态"之间辩证因果关系 [15] 。相对应地，在旅游地演化语境下，REG 或亦可弥补 路径依赖理论的解释力不足问题。综合两者的理论主张可为旅游地演化提供一个囊括时间、 空间、多元主体、内生与外生力量的多要素、跨尺度和多主体的分析框架和视角。关于 EEG 和 REG 的结合研究，部分学者开始将 "关系尺度""关系主体"等 REG 的核心概念引入 城市产业升级 [42] 、产业集群演化 [43] 和旅游地演化 [44] 研究，不过，总体而言，相关理论探讨 和实证研究尚处于探索阶段 [30,39,41,45] 。就旅游领域而言，仅发现 Sanz-Ibá ñez 和 Clavé s 基 于路径依赖、主体行为和情境三核心概念，在理论层面对旅游地演化的机制进行了讨论 [18] ...
... REG 起源于 20 世纪末 Allen、Massey 等推动的地理学的"关系转向" [31] ，并由 Bathelt, Glückler, Yeung 等学者系统整理和推广 [32][33] 。这里的"关系"是指，个人、企业、组织等能 动主体的行为互动网络及其所根植的政治、经济、社会和文化关系，其表现形式有权力、 网络嵌入性、主体能动性和不同尺度下的人际网络 [33] 。关系转向认为，地方本身并不能为 其动态演化提供一个逻辑自洽的解释，而应将地方以及地方的不同主体放在跨地方的关系 网络之中，探讨本体和关系之间的互塑关系 [34] 。首先，REG 以关系为核心，重点关注主体 的行动和相互作用如何塑造不同尺度的经济景观。因经济主体具有能动性，其行动和相互 作用的程度和性质不被事先假定，而是分析的对象 [35] 。其次，REG 关注个人、企业、政府 和组织等主体在政治、经济、社会、文化、技术情境中的位置和嵌入性，尤其是引入尺度 的视角，强调跨尺度情境下的社会能动性和关系资产对地方重构的作用，摆脱了 EEG 以企 业和区域尺度为核心的单一分析视角 [15,36] 。与将地方视为"固定"空间的传统视角不同， REG 将地方视为"流动"的、颇具复杂"关系"的空间，因而并不首要关注任何一个地理尺度, 而是着重考察不同地理尺度之间的关系以及这种关系所导致的空间问题。 在这一视角下可以看到，旅游地本身是一个复杂的地域系统，并不仅被旅游业所定义， 而是具有复杂的历史沉积，嵌于多尺度的经济、社会和文化关系 [37] 。其演化是由全球、国 家、区域、企业等多重尺度力量相互耦合下共同驱动的，是不同经济、社会和文化分层不 断叠写的过程 [38] 。REG 既强调微观主体的作用，又关注跨尺度情境间的相互影响，其多元 地理尺度融合的分析框架，在解释外生力量和多元主体对旅游地演化的推动作用上，提供 了一种开放视角。但是，当下 REG 尚极少应用于旅游研究，多元能动主体和跨尺度情境塑 造和重构旅游景观的机制尚需更多理论探讨和实证研究 [17][18] [39][40] ，在解释产业空间演化以及区域增长或衰退的结构变化过程和机制等问题上优势互 补 [30,[40][41] 。EEG 强调演化和区域内部的组织变迁，对关系和跨地方机制的关注有限；REG 强调地理过程的跨地方性和多尺度性，虽关注区域短期演化动态，但不涉及对区域长时间 缓慢演化路径的考察。前者重点考查内部自组织对地方经济演化的影响，后者则以多地理 尺度上的经济变化过程，以及其中的主体实践及其相互作用作为研究核心。前者强调历史， 关注演化的动态发展过程；后者虽亦讨论演化和路径依赖，却相对更关注截面上的空间模 式，较少关注时间轴向的过程。旅游地演化是一个多元综合的过程。对于旅游地演化仅考 察新奇和地区的根植性等内生动力是不充分的，同样仅关注基于不同尺度下的能动主体所 构成的关系网络也是不充分的 [11,37] 。胡晓辉等指出，REG 中的多层次视角能够结合"多分 析单元"和"多地理尺度"两种优势，系统阐释老工业区重构中"宏观情境变迁-中观产业转型-微观行为动态"之间辩证因果关系 [15] 。相对应地，在旅游地演化语境下，REG 或亦可弥补 路径依赖理论的解释力不足问题。综合两者的理论主张可为旅游地演化提供一个囊括时间、 空间、多元主体、内生与外生力量的多要素、跨尺度和多主体的分析框架和视角。关于 EEG 和 REG 的结合研究，部分学者开始将 "关系尺度""关系主体"等 REG 的核心概念引入 城市产业升级 [42] 、产业集群演化 [43] 和旅游地演化 [44] 研究，不过，总体而言，相关理论探讨 和实证研究尚处于探索阶段 [30,39,41,45] 。就旅游领域而言，仅发现 Sanz-Ibá ñez 和 Clavé s 基 于路径依赖、主体行为和情境三核心概念，在理论层面对旅游地演化的机制进行了讨论 [18] ...
旅游地演化历来是旅游研究和实践的热点，然而，近年来学界对其机制的理解较为缺乏理论创新。强调演化历史过程的演化经济地理学和关注行为主体及其行动和相 互作用的关系经济地理学，可为理解旅游地演化过程和机制提供重要启发。综合两者的理论主张，文章以我国香港长洲岛为例，构建并验证了一个基于路径依赖效应、能动主体行为、跨尺度情境变迁 3 维度的旅游地演化机制研究框架，并对各维度的相互作用进行了探讨。研究发现，长洲岛旅游地的演化经历了路径创建和分支与旅游业浮现、路径转型与旅游业早期成长、路径升级与旅游业壮大、路径扩展与产品创新 4个阶段。长洲岛旅游地演化是一个宏观情境变迁、中观产业转型、微观主体行为的辩证互动的非线性、动态、复杂的过程，该过程根植于跨尺度、多因素的社会-空间情境，被多元能动主体的行为和实践塑造，并受过往演化路径的制约，是三者共同作用的结果。文章所构建的研究框架可为未来旅游地演化研究提供一定的理论借鉴，其研究结论亦可为旅游地管控提供一定实践参考。
Tourist destination has long been a heatedly debated topic in tourism research and practice. However, theoretical frameworks that can soundly explain the underlying mechanisms of destination evolution have remained scarce. Evolutionary economic geography, which emphasizes the historical evolution of economic landscapes, casts important light on the creation, renewal, and destruction of evolutionary paths of tourist destinations. It has attracted a small amount of attention from tourism researchers, but the extant studies have limitations in terms of the primary focus on the temporal dimension and internal factors and the neglect of the spatial dimension and external factors. Relational economic geography, which focuses on the actions and interactions of agents in the organization of economic landscapes, has valuable insights to offer to address this shortcoming. The combination of the two approaches can offer a multi-factor, multi-actor, and trans-scalar analytical lens that encompasses notions of time, space, agents, as well as internal and external factors. Integrating the theoretical motifs of the two approaches, this study put forward a tripartite analytical framework based on the dimensions of change of trans-scalar contexts, behavior of agents, path dependence effects as well as the interactive relationships among them. Emphasizing the varied impacts of agency and relationality over time, the framework highlights the non-deterministic, non-linear, non-directional nature of destination evolution. A case study of Cheung Chau island of Hong Kong, China was conducted to validate and illustrate this framework. Findings reveal that the evolution of Cheung Chau tourist destination underwent a four stage process, i.e., path creation through the establishment of a missionary base and the path branching into a holiday resort for Westerners in 1900s—1930s, the growth of tourism industries in terms of the path transformation from missionary base to local group tour destination in 1940s—1970s, the expansion of tourism industries as a result of path upgrading into a local independent tour destination in 1980s—1990s, and the innovation of tourism products regarding path extension into an independent tour destination for Hong Kong locals and a sightseeing destination for Mainland tourists since 2000s. Such a process is the outcome of the interplay of macro-level contexts, meso-level transformation of tourism industries, and micro-level actions of relevant agents. It is embedded in particular trans-scalar contexts that exceed a narrowly conceived tourism industry, contingent on the open- ended actions and interactions of various agents, and subject to past evolutionary paths. Throughout the evolutionary process, contextuality, agency, and path dependence influence and are influenced by each other. Path recreation occurs when dynamics triggered by contextuality, agency, and path dependence link up and reinforce one another. Their interplay has found to be highly complex and dynamic rather than unidirectional and linear. Besides, the geographical scales of globe, nation, region, city, and local interact as translocal assemblages, through which tourism in Cheung Chau changed in properties and capacities, and also in relation to changes of other industries and at broader scales. Based on the findings, the study argues that the integrated evolutionary- relational approach, specifically the theoretical framework that highlights contextuality, agency, path dependence, and particularly their interplay, can provide a useful epistemology for destination evolution research. The findings can also offer significant insights for destination management, for examples, advocating for attention to nonlocal and non-tourism
factors, monitoring the destination evolution process, and listening to the voices of grassroots agents.
... Tiempo después, la literatura regionalista sobre geografía de la innovación -o de la espacialidad del conocimiento, como también se la llamó-revisó la idea originaria que tenía de proximidad indicando que podían existir niveles de coordinación adecuados entre agentes para la generación de conocimientos más allá de la proximidad geográfica o topográfica (Boschma, 2004a(Boschma, , 2005a(Boschma, , 2005bBoschma y Frenken, 2007;Doloreux y Parto, 2005;Hess, 2004;Malmberg y Maskell, 2005;Saxenian, 2006). La literatura regionalista evolucionista (Balland, Boschma y Frenken, 2015;Boschma, 2004b;Boschma y Martin, 2007), así como la geografía regionalista denominada relacional, con base en la Teoría del Actor-Red -Actor-Network Theory- (Amin y Cohendet, 2004), contribuyeron a su manera a prestar atención a los mecanismos de innovación de las empresas, con particular foco en las redes de conexiones distantes (o topológicas) de los actores económicos para desarrollar "capacidades creativas" para la generación y absorción de conocimiento (véase Hassink y Klaerding, 2009). ...
... This in turn suggests qualitative approaches or intensive rather than extensive research (Sayer, 2000). Such a perspective also facilitates linking different theoretical perspectives, as has been argued would benefit EEG (Hassink and Klaerding, 2009; Bathelt and Li 2014; Paper #2), while also connecting to positions arguing for mixed methods research and methodological pluralism (Hurrell, 2014;Downward and Mearman, 2007). Clearly, it is important to consider the constituents of industry paths through utilization of several methods, and by being open to contributions spanning traditional polarizations of either qualitative or quantitative approaches. ...
... Hence, we base our approach on an understanding of MNC activity as a practice of network- ing and transfer of knowledge (Fløysand, Njøs, Nilsen, & Nygaard, 2016;Nilsen, 2016Nilsen, , 2017. Consequently, in developing our approach, we argue that there is a need to incorporate relational understandings (e.g., Hassink & Klaerding, 2009) in conceptualiza- tions of cluster renewal. Linking up to the theoretical discussion, we analytically separate between MNC in (foreign-owned MNCs coming into the cluster) and MNC out (regional firms interna- tionalizing) in order to account for the heterogeneity of extra-regional linkages. ...
... However, the evolutionary literature has been criticized for failing to understand how actors and functions shape the development of an industry system (Bergek, Jacobsson, Carlsson, Lindmark, & Rickne, 2008;Boschma, 2016;Carlsson, Jacobsson, Holmén, & Rickne, 2002;MacKinnon, Cumbers, Pike, Birch, & McMaster, 2009), e.g., a cluster (Holmen & Fosse, 2017). This has raised a discussion on the importance of complementing the evolutionary approach with a relational understanding (e.g., Bathelt & Glückler, 2003;Hassink & Klaerding, 2009;. ...
This dissertation investigates the theoretical and conceptual underpinnings of evolutionary economic geography (EEG) and its approach to regional restructuring. A dynamic approach considering that regional industries are continuously renewing (albeit to differing degrees) is developed. Such considerations have largely been ignored in investigations of regional restructuring and much work on EEG, which have instead focused on how to re-establish former contingencies following external shocks, i.e. a reactive approach. The concept of regional industry renewal is discussed, emphasising
that regional restructuring is a continuous process characterized by different ‘intensities’ in different regions and/or time periods.
Moreover, it is emphasized throughout this dissertation that EEG has addressed the micro level of firms and organizations, the meso
level of regional settings, and the macro level of national and international settings. However, particular focus has been put on the meso level, as is illustrated by the literatures on industry clusters, regional innovation systems (RIS) and the concept of related variety. However, ‘uni-level’ approaches focusing on the meso level have
implied that EEG has predominantly developed imprecise categorizations of micro-level activity and that the role of the macro level mainly has been approached by looking at supraregional linkages as relatively homogenous. These approaches can largely be classified as static, and dynamic approaches that treat the three levels as integrated are lacking.
Thus, the approach to regional industry renewal used herein emphasizes that its sources can be both endogenous and exogenous to a region, and also that agency can play a role in shaping how these processes develop spatio-temporally, i.e. that different actors can proactively contribute to the process. In addition, the few recent contributions investigating the micro, meso and macro levels in conjunction have largely focused on path creation and new industry development, and less so restructuring of existing industry activity.
Thus, a multilevel approach to regional industry renewal is developed.
Furthermore, this is connected to the debates over the role of structure and agency in EEG. It is argued that EEG has generally ascribed power to structure over agency, but that recent conceptual and empirical works have granted agency (ascribed to the micro
level) a more prominent role in the evolution of economic systems. It is proposed that different actors, e.g., firms, industry clusters, and national policymakers, have different scopes and roles in the regional industry renewal processes, but that, importantly, agency resides not only at the micro level but also at the meso and macro levels. The connotation of this argument is for instance that the agency of cluster facilitation can play an important role in regional industry renewal. This is referred to as ‘system agency’, because deliberate actors can play a role in changing structural frameworks, e.g., through changing national regulations or regional innovation policy, and that they, in
turn, can influence the practices of other (regional) actors.
These issues are explored based on seven papers, each of which used qualitative methodology. The papers contribute with theoretical and empirical insights on the role of agency and multilevel dynamics in regional industry renewal. The empirical work described in these papers focused on the Bergen region in western Norway. Based on
this work, the Bergen region is argued to be characterized by beneficial multilevel dynamics as a result of strong firms and research and development organizations, and an industry structure characterized by related and diversified activities. Furthermore, policy has arguably played an important role in contributing to regional industry renewal
in the Bergen region, inter alia through RIS development. In addition, the region is also characterized by a largely positive interweaving in global knowledge flow and trade, and several leading firms operate in the region. Thus, the Bergen region serves well as a case study illustrating the theoretical and conceptual approaches developed in this dissertation.
... network formation (see Hassink and Klaerding 2009 for an overview). Particular attention has been given to the tendency of innovative firms to concentrate in particular areas, such as Silicon Valley in California and Route 128 in Massachusetts (Saxenian 1994;Trigilia 2008). ...
Studies of the effects of specific policy measures for innovation have focused mainly on actions based on direct R&D support. However, the innovation studies literature sees innovation as an interactive process, emphasising the role of knowledge exchange for successful innovation. Furthermore, it is increasingly accepted that co-location is not sufficient for knowledge exchange to occur. Consequently, there is also a need to assess the effectiveness of policy measures to promote knowledge exchange between co-located actors. The objective of this paper is to narrow this gap by exploring the outcome of an indirect policy in stimulating coordination and networking. The paper analyses policies for increased networking in a mechatronics district located in the peripheral and less innovative region Apulia (Southern Italy). The success of the coordination and networking action is examined by adopting a longitudinal approach. In order to assess the association of the policy with the overall network structure, social network analysis is used to analyse the data. We compare characteristics of the network in the early and later phase of the district across five dimensions of knowledge exchange, identifying a large increase in the use of partnerships as the main effect of the policy.
... Hence, we base our approach on an understanding of MNC activity as a practice of networking and transfer of knowledge (Fløysand, Njøs, Nilsen, & Nygaard, 2016;Nilsen, 2016Nilsen, , 2017. Consequently, in developing our approach, we argue that there is a need to incorporate relational understandings (e.g., Hassink & Klaerding, 2009) in conceptualizations of cluster renewal. Linking up to the theoretical discussion, we analytically separate between MNC in (foreign-owned MNCs coming into the cluster) and MNC out (regional firms internationalizing) in order to account for the heterogeneity of extra-regional linkages. ...
... However, the evolutionary literature has been criticized for failing to understand how actors and functions shape the development of an industry system (Bergek, Jacobsson, Carlsson, Lindmark, & Rickne, 2008;Boschma, 2016;Carlsson, Jacobsson, Holmén, & Rickne, 2002;MacKinnon, Cumbers, Pike, Birch, & McMaster, 2009), e.g., a cluster (Holmen & Fosse, 2017). This has raised a discussion on the importance of complementing the evolutionary approach with a relational understanding (e.g., Bathelt & Glückler, 2003;Hassink & Klaerding, 2009;Hassink, Klaerding, & Marques, 2014). ...
The cluster literature in general and evolutionary economic geography in particular emphasizes the importance of extra-regional linkages for cluster evolution. However, the literature does so without necessarily nuancing the content, i.e., heterogeneity, of such linkages. We argue that treating extra-regional linkages as homogeneous hampers an important aspect of cluster renewal; namely, that it is context specific and dependent upon the diversified practices of the involved multinational companies (MNCs). In so doing, we also argue that relational approaches to economic geography offer an important insight into the evolutionary perspective. We investigate one of Norway’s strongest and most dynamic industry clusters, the subsea cluster in Hordaland county, and discuss the usefulness of combining relational and evolutionary understandings in analytical frameworks that address cluster renewal. This study shows that the practice of regional firms that internationalize (labelled MNC out) and foreign-owned MNCs coming into the cluster (MNC in) contribute in different ways to renewal of the cluster. We find that the practices of MNC out contribute to further specialization of the cluster, whereas the practices of MNC in contribute to diversification of economic activities. Both types of extra-regional linkages are important for renewal of the cluster, as they together represent a mix between continuation and change of existing activities. Necessarily, such interplays between MNC practices and cluster evolution pan out differently in different contexts, but we argue that the literature should acknowledge that extra-regional linkages are heterogeneous and contribute differently to cluster evolution in general and renewal in particular.
... Some authors have compared EEG and REG in order to determine whether these approaches could be considered as competing or complementary and mutually formative shifts (Hassink & Klaerding, 2009). From this comparison emerges that, although some points of divergence exist, both approaches highlight the influence of path (and place) dependence in shaping the long-term dynamics of economic landscapes. ...
Analytical approaches from emergent paradigms in Economic Geography –namely, Evolutionary Economic Geography and Relational Economic Geography – can help to advance and integrate extant research in tourism geography on destinations’ dynamics and organisation. Taking into account concepts such as human agency, contextuality and path dependence, the paper conceptualises Local Tourism Destinations’ evolution as a complex, path- and place-dependent process that is determined by the action and interaction of stakeholders and their ability to adapt or create new paths, as well as to survive in response to local and global changes. Hence, it discusses the bidirectional effects between stakeholder practices and Local Tourism Destinations’ evolutionary performance. Furthermore, it attempts to increase the understanding of how and why destinations change over time, which is valuable for policy formation and to improve Local Tourism Destinations’ competitiveness and sustainability. All in all, the paper presents theoretical insights from EEG and REG to facilitate understanding of the mechanisms underpinning the evolution of destinations and examines the advantages in building an integrated evolutionary and relational approach. This also means an opportunity to integrate the geographical analysis of tourism destinations into mainstream thinking on Economic Geography.
... The paper started with a conceptual overview of EEG and presented its main criticisms with respect to institutions, power, social agency and the interrelatedness of influences at different spatial scales. EEG has strived to become the new dominant paradigm in economic geography; it has some clear conceptual notions and research foci to explain key empirical phenomena in economic geography (HASSINK and KLAERDING, 2009). The paper therefore clearly brings the discussion about EEG forward by giving an additional solution, other than the GPE approach proposed by MACKIN-NON et al. (2009) andPIKE et al. (2009), to eliminate the identified conceptual shortcomings of EEG. ...
... REG and IEG are particularly strong in explaining important phenomena in economic geography, such as knowledge transfer, production networks, supply chains and money flows, which place emphasis on actor-network relations. Both, together with EEG, are argued to be capable of being combined rather easily, with these different approaches showing only subtle differences (HASSINK and KLAERDING, 2009), mainly with respect to their fundamental disciplinary influences: whereas REG and IEG have strong links to economic sociology, EEG is heavily based on evolutionary economics (SCHAMP, 2007). But this is seen as an advantage rather than as a barrier to conceptual exchange because it allows a consideration to be made of complementary influences, e.g. the scope of institutions, on economic evolution. ...
Since 2006 economic geographers have been confronted with attempts to constitute a new paradigm of evolutionary economic geography. This paper aims at advancing evolutionary economic geography by reviewing its core critique and proposed solutions, particularly that of integrating the perspective of a geographical political economy. Although the authors sympathize with the identified shortcomings of evolutionary economic geography, the proposed alternative approach, geographical political economy, is regarded as being too narrow and reductionist. By combining evolutionary and relational economic geography in certain respects a plea is made for advancing evolutionary economic geography by engaged pluralism.
... The paper started with a conceptual overview of EEG and presented its main criticisms with respect to institutions, power, social agency and the interrelatedness of influences at different spatial scales. EEG has strived to become the new dominant paradigm in economic geography; it has some clear conceptual notions and research foci to explain key empirical phenomena in economic geography (HASSINK and KLAERDING, 2009). The paper therefore clearly brings the discussion about EEG forward by giving an additional solution, other than the GPE approach proposed by MACKINNON et al. (2009) andPIKE et al. (2009), to eliminate the identified conceptual shortcomings of EEG. ...
... In our view, REG and IEG are particularly strong in explaining important phenomena in economic geography, such as knowledge transfer, production networks, supply chains and money flows which place emphasis on actor-network relations. Both, together with EEG, are argued to be capable of being combined rather easily, with these different approaches showing only subtle differences (HASSINK and KLAERDING, 2009), mainly with respect to their fundamental disciplinary influences: whereas REG and IEG have strong links to economic sociology, EEG is heavily based on evolutionary economics (SCHAMP, 2007). But this is seen as an advantage rather than a barrier to conceptual exchange because it allows considering complementary influences, e.g. ...
Since 2006 economic geographers have been confronted with attempts to constitute a new paradigm of evolutionary economic geography. This paper aims at advancing evolutionary economic geography by reviewing its core critique and proposed solutions, particularly that of integrating the perspective of a geographical political economy. Although the authors sympathize with the identified shortcomings of evolutionary economic geography, the proposed alternative approach, geographical political economy, is regarded as being too narrow and reductionist. By combining evolutionary and relational economic geography in certain respects a plea is made for advancing evolutionary economic geography by engaged pluralism.
... Evolutionary and relational geography can be seen as alternative but related perspectives or paradigms (Hassink & Klaerding 2009). Although there are various versions within each of them, relational geography is generally less focused on history and more on networks and relations among actors as well as the social-cultural embeddedness of economic relations. ...
... Although there are various versions within each of them, relational geography is generally less focused on history and more on networks and relations among actors as well as the social-cultural embeddedness of economic relations. It also applies a broader conception of institutions and integrates institutions more strongly in the analysis of regional development (Hassink & Klaerding 2009). Relational geography's influence is reflected in the contributions to this issue. ...
The article gives a brief historical overview of the changing perspectives of Norwegian regional research and regional policy related to the concept of regional restructuring. It offers an interpretation of the concept ‘path dependence’ and newer, related concepts such as ‘renewal’, ‘reorientation’, and ‘resilience’, which gradually have replaced the traditional regional restructuring approach associated with Doreen Massey. The article discusses how, in a series of case studies, history matters in the following ways: the significance that events or decisions in the past have for further development; institutions and regulations that cause inertia; and entrepreneurs and organizations that recombine accumulated knowledge and reutilize local resources, infrastructure, or cultural heritage in innovative processes. The studies are informed by evolutionary as well as by relational and institutional strands of economic geography. They are mainly qualitative case studies of Norwegian municipalities and regions dominated by certain industries vulnerable to economic decline. Further, they demonstrate a broad set of strategies of industrial renewal and reorientation. Bottom-up strategies and local flexibility with regard to modes of organizing restructuring are recommended.
... Evolution is shaped by competition between agents and rests on processes of variety, selection and continuity Evolutionary Economic Geography (Boschma & Frenken, 2006Boschma & Martin, 2007 "How the economic landscape is transformed from within over time" (Boschma & Martin, 2010) Brouder & Eriksson (2013) Path plasticity Halkier & Therkelsen (2012) Anton & Wilson (2012) Path creation Gill (2012) Path dependence Bramwell & Cox (2009) Ma & Hassink (2012 Human agency Gill & Williams (2011) ...
In tourism geography there has been an emerging relational and evolutionary turn during last decades. Researchers are increasingly emphasising the prominent role of stakeholders' interaction in tourism development. The Tourism Local System approach, from Lazzeretti & Capone, has been a suitable model to analyse tourism destinations as socially- and locally-constructed systems. On the other hand, the evolution of tourism destinations has been one of the main areas of study in tourism geography. Although widely criticised and modified, Butler's TALC has been regarded as the mainstream until now.
To go beyond these paradigms and integrate relational and evolutionary thinking, this paper argues that concepts from Relational Economic Geography and the emergent paradigm of Evolutionary Economic Geography can help to advance research on Local Tourism Destinations as complex districts. The paper develops a theoretical framework to conceptualise Local Tourism Destinations dynamics from an integrated relational-evolutionary perspective, considering their evolution as a complex path- and place-dependent process that is determined by the interaction of district stakeholders in a certain context and their ability to adapt (path plasticity) or creating new paths (path creation).
The theoretical model presented aims to provide a framework for the analysis of the bidirectional effects between stakeholders' relational behaviour and Local Tourism Destinations evolutionary performance, as well as increasing the understanding of how and why destinations change over time, which is a valuable input to guide policies and improve Local Tourism Destinations competitiveness and sustainability.
