Financial geography III: Research strategies, designs, methods and data

Abstract

I review research strategies, designs, methods and data in financial geography, by focussing on 449 articles published in 2001–2020. The analysis shows considerable methodological diversity and originality, contributing to geography and studies of finance. Over time, qualitative strategies, case study design and interviews as a method and data source are growing, while quantitative strategy, longitudinal design, regression methods and the use of government data are declining. The analysis helps identify gaps, opportunities and challenges, including the need for more methodological transparency, more in-depth qualitative and quantitative approaches supporting causal analysis, and a more ambitious historical and geographical scope.