Critical realist perspectives on the urban growth system

Waite, D. (2022) Critical realist perspectives on the urban growth system. Environment and Planning A, 54(6), pp. 1219-1235. (doi: 10.1177/0308518X221102958)

Abstract

Why some cities have been able to sustain economic growth more than others, and how particular technological or sectoral break points shift a city's economic performance favourably (or unfavourably), present ongoing conundrums. Whilst single factor accounts – such as the skilled city and the creative city – have the appeal of analytical parsimony, economic geographers suggest that a multiplicity of structures, processes and events typically sit behind how growth originates and is subsequently shaped. Given such complexity, how can we develop appropriate approaches to theorising causality within urban economic systems? This paper presents the case that critical realism may perform a useful ground-clearing role. With a layered ontology at its core, coupled with recent literature providing greater guidance for empirical application, it is argued that critical realism may present a complementary explanatory perspective.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Waite, David
• Authors: Waite, D.
• College/School: College of Social Sciences > School of Social and Political Sciences > Urban Studies
• Journal Name: Environment and Planning A
• Publisher: SAGE Publications
• ISSN: 0308-518X
• ISSN (Online): 1472-3409
• Published Online: 09 June 2022
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2022 The Author
• First Published: First published in Environment and Planning A 54(6): 1219-1235
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced under a Creative Commons License