Regional development is a multi-faceted process that aims to stimulate economic growth, promote clean energy sources, create jobs, and improve access to basic necessities such as food and water. It involves gathering and analyzing data to develop a plan that can be implemented by the region. It also seeks to better prepare regions to anticipate and withstand economic disruptions such as natural disasters, a loss of a key industry, or the closure of a local business.
Various scholars such as geographers, economists, sociologists, and political scientists have contributed to the study of regional development. These scholars have developed concepts and methodologies that address the process from different angles. The research they conduct can range from investigating how different companies invest in regional markets to examining the economic benefits of sustainable tourism. They are also concerned with how regional development can be accelerated through government policies.
In order to understand how regional development processes work, we need a deeper understanding of the interplay between different factors. In particular, we need a greater awareness of the role that power relations play in these processes. Moreover, we need a more critical analysis of narratives in regional development studies. Narratives are effective in revealing biases that are deeply embedded within different social systems in regional development. This is particularly true when it comes to evolutionary economic geography (EEG) and regional innovation systems (RISs).
These complexities are why we need a new perspective on the concept of regional development. This new perspective should incorporate more than just economic issues and consider other elements such as the cultural, environmental, and social aspects of these processes.