A Behavioural Theory of Economic Development

Reviews / Votes

A Behavioural Theory of Economic Development can and should become a guide for researchers who want to give culture and agency the place they deserve in the study of urban and regional development. The volume extends our knowledge of individual and group behaviour with respect to regional development. And it stimulates one to look for the right methods, both quantitative and qualitative, to capture the cultural dimension of it in the best way * Regional Studies * the book offers a good start for exploring these questions and for focusing empirical research on the interplay of agency, behavior, evolution, culture, and institutions that is so important for understanding the variegated outcomes of local and regional economic development. In particular, students and early-career researchers interested in these highly topical questions are likely to find ample inspiration for further research in this book. * Eurasian Geography and Economics * This scholarly study lays out a theoretical argument around the process of economic development; it then provides empirical evidence to illustrate cultural, psychological, and institutional relationships that uncover how that process evolved. By identifying that differences in human conduct across locations and regions matter (both within and between political boundaries), the authors add nuance and understanding to a salient research area. This work is also an important reminder to researchers and policy makers that people do indeed matter. * T. E. Sullivan, CHOICE * Economic development is more than the outcome of the location choices and strategies of large corporations, governments, and institutions. It is shaped and structured by the myriad decisions we all make. Fusing long standing theories of economics, innovation theory, and economic geography with more recent advances in behavioral economics, network sociology, social psychology, and psychogeography, this book offers an eye-opening new window into the processes of economic development. * Richard Florida, University of Toronto, Author of The Rise of the Creative Class * An ambitious contribution to the theory of economic development, bridging recent advances in the theory and practice of decision-making with a commitment to understanding how and why cities and regions develop (or not). The authors challenge convention whether found in economics, economic geography, or in area studies. The result is a breath of fresh air in a field of research and public policy too often enamoured with path dependence and uneven development. They have something to say, and say it with rigor and insight. * Gordon L. Clark, University of Oxford * This important new book uncovers the "secret sauce" underlying why some cities and regions do better than others-it's all about the people. Huggins and Thompson weave together thoughtful new theoretical insights with meticulously garnered empirical evidence to make it clear it's not just human capital but rather people's behavior that drives economic performance and ultimately the development of places. Thanks to this path breaking book, with its focus on the key role played by behavior, economic development policy for cities, regions, and states will never be the same. * David B. Audretsch, Distinguished Professor, Indiana University *