Investigating agency: methodological and empirical challenges

Grillitsch, Markus; Rekers, Josephine V.; Sotarauta, Markku

doi:10.4337/9781788979689.00028

Cited by 30 publications

(22 citation statements)

References 0 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Research on agents of change implies asking the question who did what, when, where, why, how, with whom and to what consequence making qualitative research a particularly suitable methodology (Grillitsch et al, 2021). Qualitative research implies an extensive collection of data from multiple sources of information (Creswell, 2013).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Qualitative research implies an extensive collection of data from multiple sources of information (Creswell, 2013). The research strategy aimed to generate a timeline of events and understand the actions directed towards achieving change (Grillitsch et al, 2021). Small-and medium-sized towns' context is conducive to the research on agents of change thanks to the limited number of easily identifiable actors within clearly defined spatial and temporal boundaries.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

An agent of change against all odds? The case of Ledger in Vierzon, France

Morisson

Mayer

2021

Local Economy: The Journal of the Local Economy Policy Unit

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The literature in economic geography is increasingly interested in the role of human agency in local and regional development. The understanding of the role of agents of change on path development is especially critical for small- and medium-sized towns (SMSTs), which tend to be less diversified and to have fewer localised capabilities. The town of Vierzon in the Centre-Val-de-Loire region in France is a medium-sized old industrial town in a structural crisis. It is suffering from deindustrialisation, population decline, unemployment and poverty. This article takes a micro-perspective with a case study approach to explore the creation and growth of Ledger – a frontier blockchain start-up that designs, produces and commercialises hardware wallets for cryptocurrencies – against all odds in Vierzon, France. It underlines the role of a Window of Locational Opportunity, agency, chance, the broader institutional context in the location of Ledger in an unlikely place and subsequent unrelated diversification and path creation. It contributes to the debate on the interplay between agency and structure by linking agents of change in SMSTs to the broader institutional context and to the understanding of the emergence of place-based leadership.

show abstract

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

An agent of change against all odds? The case of Ledger in Vierzon, France

Morisson

Mayer

2021

Local Economy: The Journal of the Local Economy Policy Unit

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Although this paper adheres to the view that actors are voyagers in the passages of time (Grillitsch et al, 2021), it would also like to add that empirical findings from this paper suggest that actors are also strategic architects of temporal structures in ways that benefit them in their pursuit of regional transformations. These temporal perceptions actors create are found to be geographically bound in meaning, and persuasive only to those who can identify with the places it represents.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 87%

“…Different actors act at different phases (Jolly et al, 2020) and with different coalition partners (MacKinnon et al, 2019). This underscores the notion that actors are temporally embedded (Grillitsch and Sotarauta, 2020) and that agency is best studied “by situating it in the flow of time” (Grillitsch et al, 2021: 308). Thus, examining time and the specific ways it can enable and constrain actors can further enrich the study and understanding of agency.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 92%

The consequences of timing norms and term limits on local agency

David

2021

Environ Plan A

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Incorporating time as a unit of analysis can enrich the study of agency by showing the specific ways in which actors are temporally constrained when responding to economic disturbances. In this paper, this is done by examining how the behavior of actors is affected by timing norms such as term limits that may be associated with an actor's position, as for example, an elected mayor or university vice-chancellor. Institutions such as timing norms and term limits shape, constrain, and enable actors in their efforts to persuade others to mobilize resources toward collective action and institutional change in regions. This paper shows the value of considering timing norms in the study of agency, by presenting a comparative case study of local actors’ responses to the closure of large research and development facilities in two cities in Sweden. Main findings from interview material and supporting documents show that the possibility to renew term limits shape how actors pursue policy initiatives. These initiatives are found to be in sync with the term limits of these actors, particularly in the schedules of policy milestones and operations. However, this paper also finds that actors actively shape these temporal constructs in order to convince other actors to support collective action efforts. This paper contributes to a more time conscious account of agency, with its cases pointing to the importance of investigating institutions with temporal dimensions that help explain how agentic processes are carried out.

show abstract

“…The paper by Thomas et al (2020), which explores the role of universities in orchestrating regional economic development, adds a case study from Southern Brazil, another context less well represented in the literature to date. This paper speaks to a currently popular conversation in the regional development literature about place leadership and change agency, illustrating how universities can step into this role (Grillitsch et al, 2021; Pugh et al., 2016; Sotarauta & Beer, 2021). Taken together, these two papers push forward our understanding of the role of universities in ecosystems, and how they interact with the broader institutional contexts of their regions.…”

Section: The Articles In the Special Issuementioning

confidence: 91%

Taking the systems approaches out of their comfort zones: Perspectives from under explored contexts

2021

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

This special issue tackles two “trendy” topics much discussed at present by the community of scholars (and practitioners too) interested in regional economic development: systems and ecosystems. These metaphors have proved popular, and enduring, currently experiencing something of a buzz or moment in the sunshine. This special issue pushes them out of their comfort zone to explore contexts, elements, and approaches that have not yet been well explored in the literature to date. Contributions in this special issue cover a wide range of international cases and explore systemic perspectives on economic development placing institutional context and evolutionary dynamics at the core.

show abstract

Investigating agency: methodological and empirical challenges

Abstract: Regional growth against all odds (organized by Rune Dahl Fitjar and Markus Grillitsch) Technological change and paths of regional transformation "Green" regional development, social and environmental sustainability Analysis and evaluation of regional innovation policies

Cited by 30 publications

References 0 publications

An agent of change against all odds? The case of Ledger in Vierzon, France

An agent of change against all odds? The case of Ledger in Vierzon, France

The consequences of timing norms and term limits on local agency

Taking the systems approaches out of their comfort zones: Perspectives from under explored contexts

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About