A Behavioural Theory of Economic Development

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert Huggins ◽  
Piers Thompson
Keyword(s):  
Economic Development ◽  
Uneven Development ◽  
Human Behaviour ◽  
Social Scientists ◽  
Behavioural Theory ◽  
Novel Theory ◽  
Strongly Connected ◽  
Behavioural Profile

This book is motivated by a belief that theories of economic development can move beyond the generally known factors and mechanisms of such development. It establishes a behavioural theory of economic development illustrating that differences in human behaviour across cities and regions are a significant deep-rooted cause of uneven development. Fusing a range of concepts relating to culture, psychology, human agency, institutions, and power, it proposes that the uneven economic development and evolution of cities and regions within and across nations are strongly connected with the underlying forms of behaviour enacted by humans both individually and collectively. Integrating theoretical and empirical analysis, the book builds upon entrepreneurial and innovation theories of economic evolution to make sense of the cultural, psychological, and agentic components and elements of city and regional economic ecosystems that lead to long-term differentials in development. For social scientists with an interest in understanding the nature of uneven economic development, the book provides a novel theory of the role of human behaviour, psychocultural context, and institutions in the evolution and uneven development of cities and regions. This human behaviour is framed in the form of the ‘behavioural profile’ of cities and regions encompassing citizens in terms of their personalities, cultural histories, aspirations, and perceived opportunities, as well as their broader propensities to act in certain ways.

Introduction

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-14
Author(s):  
Robert Huggins ◽  
Piers Thompson
Keyword(s):  
Human Capital ◽  
Economic Development ◽  
Human Agency ◽  
Uneven Development ◽  
Human Behaviour ◽  
Fundamental Causes ◽  
Strongly Connected ◽  
Development And Evolution

This chapter introduces the book and the fact that it is motivated by a belief that theories of economic development can move beyond the generally known factors and mechanisms of such development, with the aim being to analyse deeper and more fundamental causes of uneven development. In particular, influences such as innovation, entrepreneurship, knowledge, and human capital are widely acknowledged as key levers of development. However, what are the sources of these factors, and why do they differ in their endowment across places? This chapter indicates that the book seeks to theoretically argue and to empirically illustrate that differences in human behaviour across cities and regions are a significant deep-rooted cause of uneven development. Fusing a range of concepts relating to culture, psychology, human agency, institutions, and power, it proposes that the uneven economic development and evolution of cities and regions within and across nations are strongly connected with the underlying forms of behaviour enacted by humans both individually and collectively.

scholarly journals Reform in the international food aid regime: the role of consensual knowledge

1992 ◽  
Vol 46 (1) ◽  
pp. 225-264 ◽  
Author(s):  
Raymond F. Hopkins
Keyword(s):  
Economic Development ◽  
International Organizations ◽  
Epistemic Community ◽  
Food Aid ◽  
Local Production ◽  
Short Term ◽  
The 1950S ◽  
Food Imports

The principles and norms adopted by the regime governing food aid in the 1950s have changed substantially during the subsequent three decades. Explaining the changes necessarily includes analyzing the efforts of an international epistemic community consisting of economic development specialists, agricultural economists, and administrators of food aid. According to the initial regime principles, food aid should be provided from donors' own surplus stocks, should supplement the usual commercial food imports in recipient countries, should be given under short-term commitments sensitive to the political and economic goals of donors, and should directly feed hungry people. As a result of following these principles, the epistemic community and other critics argued, food aid often had the adverse effects of reducing local production of food in recipient countries and exacerbating rather than alleviating hunger. The epistemic community (1) developed and proposed ideas for more efficiently supplying food aid and avoiding “disincentive” effects and (2) pushed for reforms to make food aid serve as the basis for the recipients' economic development and to target it at addressing long-term food security problems. The ideas of the international epistemic community have increasingly received support from international organizations and the governments of donor and recipient nations. Most recently, they have led to revisions of the U.S. food aid program passed by Congress in October 1990 and signed into law two months later. As the analysis of food aid reform demonstrates, changes in the international regime have been incremental, rather than radical. Moreover, the locus for the change has shifted from an American-centered one in the 1950s to a more international one in recent decades.

scholarly journals The Major Determinants of Innovative Environment Formation in Georgia

2020 ◽  
pp. 243-249
Keyword(s):  
Economic Development ◽  
Innovation Policy ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
Modern World ◽  
Global Innovation ◽  
Innovative Environment ◽  
Job Growth ◽  
Innovative Economy

In parallel to the globalization of the modern world economy, the development of innovative policies for economic development is considered as a topical problem in a number of countries around the world. For developed countries, innovative economies have become one of the key preconditions for the country’s economic success. In Georgia, despite recent economic reforms, the country has not achieved tangible results in terms of innovation development. Hence the development of the economy needs to facilitate the formation of an innovative economy. Experience in developed countries shows that in a transformative economy the crucial role lies in the development of innovations and technological novelties. Accordingly, the article examines the contribution of innovation to the economic development of transformational countries. Priorities of innovation policy in Georgia have been identified, and the role of innovation in creating a competitive environment, increasing productivity and raising living standards has been assessed. The article uses the Global Innovation Index (GII) to assess the level of innovation in a country. There are discussed mechanisms that can help achieve long-term economic growth, productivity and job growth as well.

scholarly journals The Competitive Advantage of Nations: origins and journey

2015 ◽  
Vol 25 (5) ◽  
pp. 458-470 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert Huggins ◽  
Hiro Izushi
Keyword(s):  
Economic Development ◽  
Competitive Advantage ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Cluster Theory ◽  
Unit Of Analysis ◽  
Content Type

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to provide an understanding of the origins and journey of the fundamental ideas underpinning Michael Porter’s The Competitive Advantage of Nations as a means of assessing its influence. Design/methodology/approach – Drawing on a reflection of the book’s text and associated works by Porter, the paper shows how Porter’s thinking evolved from his earlier writings, as well as how his ideas went through further periods of development following the publication of The Competitive Advantage of Nations. Findings – The paper focuses on the emergence of Porter’s cluster theory and his growing acknowledgement of the role of innovation within processes of economic development. It shows how these concepts have provided a foundation for contemporary economic development practices. Also, the paper highlights how the fundamental concepts of Porter’s text have shifted from a unit of analysis focused on nations to one where subnational regions are the primary analytical unit. Originality/value – The paper concludes by suggesting that the nature of Porter’s conceptual insights is likely to ensure the long-term endurance of the fundamental lessons contained within The Competitive Advantage of Nations.

Schumpeterian economic development and financial innovations: a conflicting evolution

2014 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 257-277 ◽  
Author(s):  
FARUK ÜLGEN
Keyword(s):  
Economic Development ◽  
Financial Markets ◽  
Regulatory Mechanisms ◽  
Economic Evolution ◽  
Destruction Process ◽  
Economic Stability ◽  
Institutional Dynamics ◽  
Financial Innovations

Abstract:Although in the Schumpeterian process of entrepreneurial innovations money and financial markets are assumed to affect economic development, Schumpeter does not explicitly study financial evolution and its effects on real dynamics. In order to fill this gap, this article suggests a Minsky-inspired interpretation of Schumpeterian institutional dynamics in monetary terms. It then develops a specific Schumpeterian analysis of the evolution of financial institutions and regulatory mechanisms in the wake of the 2007–08 crisis and points to major consequences of financial innovations on economic stability. It appears that unlike the creative destruction process of entrepreneurial innovations, in a liberalised/deregulated environment financial innovations move banks from their crucial role of financing long-term economic evolution and lead to reckless finance. Thus, financial market dynamics put economies on a destructive path. Such an evolution calls for active and tight rational regulation in order to shape capitalist finance towards more stable and welfare-enhancing strategies.

Rostow's Kondratieff Cycle in Australia

1984 ◽  
Vol 44 (3) ◽  
pp. 729-753 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Pope
Keyword(s):  
Economic Development ◽  
World Economy ◽  
Raw Materials ◽  
Long Waves ◽  
Social Scientists ◽  
The World ◽  
Kondratieff Cycles ◽  
The Subject

The turn of economic events in the early 1970s correlates with a revival of ideas about the existence of long swings in economic development. The subject of Kondratieff cycles has attracted the pens of social scientists of very different persuasions. This paper draws on Walt W. Rostow's interpretation—with its emphasis on the role of exporters of food and raw materials in the world economy—to explore Australian long waves over the last 110 years. I conclude that the case for their existence is not confirmed and moreover that Rostow's cycle-mechanics offer a doubtful explication of movements in the Australian series.

scholarly journals Features of construction of the model socially oriented national economy

2020 ◽  
pp. 48-55
Author(s):  
Оlena Golovnya ◽  
Iryna Kinash
Keyword(s):  
Economic Development ◽  
Public Sector ◽  
Economic System ◽  
National Economy ◽  
State Regulation ◽  
The State ◽  
Social Orientation ◽  
Economic Mechanism

The background of the development of the model of economic development of Ukraine in the context of social orientation has been analyzed taking into account the interdependent influence of the mechanism of market relations and economic policy of the state. It is researched that the economic mechanism of socially oriented market economy contains organizational structure of production (vertical and horizontal), specific forms of functioning of economic system (state and non-state regulation of the market), as well as a specific institutional base (including its legislative component). The constituents of the economic system are entities formed by large economic entities (eg financial corporations). The authors argue that the economic mechanism of a socially oriented national economy is a complex structure and system of interconnections and includes: a) a system of balanced markets; b) public sector of economy; c) large economic structures that fulfill the regulatory role of the state for the economy as a whole and at the same time increase the market sensitivity to medium and long-term programs of its development; d) public sector administrative and production subsystem; e) system of operative state regulation of economy; e) a budget-balancing system with a powerful core; g) regulatory framework governing mid-market processes. The study states that Ukraine, in rather difficult conditions, produces the parameters of its own national model of socio-economic development for the long term. The country has not yet formulated or implemented an effective model of economic development that would fully reflect its national characteristics and interests and become a macroeconomic basis for effective state regulation It is determined that in the conditions of construction of a new model of the national economy the role of non-governmental and charitable organizations is increasing. The role of non-governmental organizations, which represent one of the most optimal legal forms to assist citizens in solving their common problems, upholding common interests, is a compulsory attribute of the model of socially oriented national economy.

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