Theories of Local Economic Development

Dr James E Rowe is Senior Planner in Economic Development at Manukau City Council, New Zealand.

• Contents: Foreword, Jeffrey A. Finkle; Preface; Part 1 Introduction: The importance of theory: linking theory to practice, James E. Rowe. Part 2 Defining the Discipline: Theory and practice in economic development: 80 entangled years in search of Panacea, Mark Miller; The evolution of American (spatial) local and regional economic development policy and planning, Edward J. Blakely; The theory and practice of developing locally, Andrew Beer. Part 3 Theoretical Concepts: 'Globalisation' and 'local economic development' in a globalising world: critical reflections on the theory-practice relation, Richard Le Heron; Configuring to be globally competitive, Michael I. Luger; Location theory, Philip McCann; The theory behind business clusters, Martin Perry; Regional economic development methods and analysis: linking theory to practice, Robert Stimson and Roger R. Stough; The role of universities in theories of regional development, Paul Dalziel, Caroline Saunders and William Kaye-Blake; Philosophies in entrepreneurship: a focus on economic theories, Luke Pittaway; Theory and practice of technology-based economic development, Harvey A. Goldstein; Social capital and local economic development, John P. Blair and Michael Carroll. Part 4 Theoretical Frameworks: Imperatives of enjoyment: economic development under globalisation, Michael Gunder; Moving the discipline beyond metaphors, James E. Rowe; Towards an alternative theoretical framework for understanding local economic development; James E. Rowe; Appendices; Index.

'This impressive book really delivers! The authors are all highly regarded international experts and leaders in regional science, planning, analytical geography, and regional economics who are known for both cutting-edge scholarship and for applied work which is widely accepted in the market place. I am certain that it will be warmly received by thoughtful economic development and planning practitioners who want to know where their field is heading and by faculty and graduate students who are interested in seeing theory put to the ultimate test - policy and practice.' Lay James Gibson, University of Arizona, USA '...this book provides an interesting selection of 16 papers that highlight the sheer variety of perspectives and frameworks available to economic policy maker and local development practitioner today.' New Zealand Geographer