Well, Maybe...: Taking Context Seriously in Analyzing Local Economic Development

Abstract

Reese and Rosenfeld’s challenge to the myths about local economic development raises important questions about theory development and notions of causality implicit in current empirical work. In addition to the authors’ advocacy of more utilization of combined research approaches, case studies, and cultural analyses, the author argues for embracing concepts of contingent causality, employing counterfactuals and pattern-matching methods, and developing more systematic and rigorous contextual methodologies.