How to Make Progress in Theories of Spatial Clustering
A Case Study of Malmberg and Maskell's Emerging Theory
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 4140959 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Paivi Oinas (0000-0001-5521-3060, University of Turku, corresponding author), Caterina Marchionni (0000-0001-6547-4248, University of Helsinki, corresponding author) |
| Year | 2010 |
| Volume | 42 |
| Issue | 4 |
| Pages | 805-820 |
| Publication date | 2010-04-01 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Environment and Planning A Economy and Space (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 0308-518X • E-ISSN: 1472-3409 |
| Publisher | SAGE Publications Inc (PUBLISHER) |
| DOI | 10.1068/a42166 |
| OpenAlex | W2004018934 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 1 |
| References cited | 32 |
Many social science disciplines suffer from a tradition of tolerating vaguely formulated theoretical claims. The authors report a case study of the explanatory claims made in an emerging knowledge-based theory of clusters proposed by the economic geographers Malmberg and Maskell. In doing so they reinterpret and reconstruct Malmberg and Maskells's theory by applying what is called the 'contrastive approach' to explanation from contemporary philosophy of science literature. This approach is proposed as a means of enhancing explanatory clarity and thereby of fostering explanatory progress. The contrastive approach is useful in specifying the exact explanation-seeking questions, and answers to them. Specifying the explanatory claims of a theory also makes it easier to identify questions that are not posed and hence remain unanswered; those constitute a challenge for further theorizing. The case study supports the argument that the precise formulation of explanatory questions promotes explanatory progress
CLARITY · Economics · Epistemology · Explanatory model · Explanatory power · Philosophy of science · Positive economics · Social science · Sociology · Business Strategy and Innovation · Land Use and Ecosystem Services · Philosophy · Regional Economics and Spatial Analysis
The Competitive Advantage of Nations
Localised learning and industrial competitiveness
Towards an explanation of regional specialization and industry agglomeration
Localized Learning Revisited
Regional Advantage
The selective nature of knowledge networks in clusters
Deconstructing clusters
The Competitiveness of Firms and Regions
Competition and collaboration in interconnected places
Is there progress in human geography? The problem of progress in the light of recent work in the philosophy and sociology of science
Clusters and knowledge
Putting progress in its place
Progress in Human Geography
Fuzzy Old World
Towards Conceptual Quality in Regional Studies
The Cluster as Market Organisation
No Strings Attached
Fuzzy Concepts, Scanty Evidence, Policy Distance
Reorienting Economics
The Regional Environment and a Firm's Innovative Performance
The Elusive Concept of Localization Economies
| Unique citing works | 1 |
|---|---|
| Citations per year | 0,33 |
| Citation span | 2023 - 2023 (1) |
| Citation velocity | historical |
| Highly cited | No |
| Citation types | Neutral: 1 |