Economic geography meets psychology: Motivation, results, design and agenda

Economic differences across space are only partially be explained by economic determinants. One reason might be the neglect of the psychological make-up of regions and its citizens. Recent research under the heading of ‘geographical psychology’ highlights the potential of a psychological approach to...

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Main Authors: Harry Garretsen, Janka I. Stoker
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2023-01-01
Series:Current Research in Ecological and Social Psychology
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666622723000345
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author Harry Garretsen
Janka I. Stoker
author_facet Harry Garretsen
Janka I. Stoker
author_sort Harry Garretsen
collection DOAJ
description Economic differences across space are only partially be explained by economic determinants. One reason might be the neglect of the psychological make-up of regions and its citizens. Recent research under the heading of ‘geographical psychology’ highlights the potential of a psychological approach to enhance our understanding of the uneven spatial distribution of economic activity. To assess the value added of incorporating psychological factors, we will use the inclusion of personality traits as an example in this commentary. It turns out that the regional variation in these traits does not only help to explain regional growth differences, but also regional differences in political outcomes and in resilience to shocks. When discussing various promising results, the importance of a proper research design looms large with notably causality issues and explaining behavioral mechanisms being real concerns. The commentary will close with policy implications and a research agenda.
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spelling doaj.art-317cf25ac3f24738b77f694e67839d222023-06-24T05:19:32ZengElsevierCurrent Research in Ecological and Social Psychology2666-62272023-01-014100121Economic geography meets psychology: Motivation, results, design and agendaHarry Garretsen0Janka I. Stoker1Corresponding author.; Faculty of Economics and Business, University of Groningen, PO Box 800, 9700 AV Groningen, NetherlandsFaculty of Economics and Business, University of Groningen, PO Box 800, 9700 AV Groningen, NetherlandsEconomic differences across space are only partially be explained by economic determinants. One reason might be the neglect of the psychological make-up of regions and its citizens. Recent research under the heading of ‘geographical psychology’ highlights the potential of a psychological approach to enhance our understanding of the uneven spatial distribution of economic activity. To assess the value added of incorporating psychological factors, we will use the inclusion of personality traits as an example in this commentary. It turns out that the regional variation in these traits does not only help to explain regional growth differences, but also regional differences in political outcomes and in resilience to shocks. When discussing various promising results, the importance of a proper research design looms large with notably causality issues and explaining behavioral mechanisms being real concerns. The commentary will close with policy implications and a research agenda.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666622723000345
spellingShingle Harry Garretsen
Janka I. Stoker
Economic geography meets psychology: Motivation, results, design and agenda
Current Research in Ecological and Social Psychology
title Economic geography meets psychology: Motivation, results, design and agenda
title_full Economic geography meets psychology: Motivation, results, design and agenda
title_fullStr Economic geography meets psychology: Motivation, results, design and agenda
title_full_unstemmed Economic geography meets psychology: Motivation, results, design and agenda
title_short Economic geography meets psychology: Motivation, results, design and agenda
title_sort economic geography meets psychology motivation results design and agenda
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666622723000345
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