Patterns of opportunity spaces and agency across regional contexts: Conditions and drivers for change

Markus Grillitsch; Josephine Rekers; Björn Asheim; Rune Dahl Fitjar; Silje Haus-Reve; Jari Kolehmainen; Heli Kurikka; Karl-Johan Lundquist; Mikhail Martynovich; Skirmante Monteilhet; Hjalti Nielsen; Magnus Nilsson; Sami Sopanen; Markku Sotarauta; Linda Stihl

doi:10.1177/0308518X241303636

Patterns of opportunity spaces and agency across regional contexts: Conditions and drivers for change

Markus Grillitsch^*
, Josephine Rekers
, Björn Asheim
, Rune Dahl Fitjar
, Silje Haus-Reve
, Jari Kolehmainen
, Heli Kurikka
, Karl-Johan Lundquist
, Mikhail Martynovich
, Skirmante Monteilhet
, Hjalti Nielsen
, Magnus Nilsson
, Sami Sopanen
, Markku Sotarauta
, Linda Stihl

^*Corresponding author for this work

Administrative Studies

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Scientific › peer-review

9 Citations (Scopus)

21 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

Non-metropolitan regions are considered more exposed to external shocks than their metropolitan counterparts, while having lower capacities to change. However, there is considerable variation among non-metropolitan regions. We argue that this variation can be captured theoretically by modelling the dynamic interplay between perceived and real opportunity spaces and agency. We empirically analyse regional change processes in 12 regions in the Nordics over a period of 30 years with a unique dataset. We find patterns of opportunity spaces and agency, which allow theoretical reflections about conditions and drivers for change, and has implications for place-based regional policy.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	159-183
Journal	Environment and Planning A
Volume	57
Issue number	2-3
Early online date	26 Dec 2024
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1177/0308518X241303636
Publication status	Published - 2025
Publication type	A1 Journal article-refereed

Keywords

Agency and structure
change agency
comparative research design
opportunity spaces
regional development

Publication forum classification

Publication forum level 3

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Geography, Planning and Development
Environmental Science (miscellaneous)

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10.1177/0308518X241303636Licence: CC BY

Patterns of opportunity spaces and agency across regional contexts Conditions and drivers for changeFinal published version, 512 KBLicence: CC BY

https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:tuni-202501161467Licence: CC BY

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Grillitsch, M., Rekers, J., Asheim, B., Fitjar, R. D., Haus-Reve, S., Kolehmainen, J., Kurikka, H., Lundquist, K.-J., Martynovich, M., Monteilhet, S., Nielsen, H., Nilsson, M., Sopanen, S., Sotarauta, M., & Stihl, L. (2025). Patterns of opportunity spaces and agency across regional contexts: Conditions and drivers for change. Environment and Planning A, 57(2-3), 159-183. https://doi.org/10.1177/0308518X241303636

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title = "Patterns of opportunity spaces and agency across regional contexts: Conditions and drivers for change",

abstract = "Non-metropolitan regions are considered more exposed to external shocks than their metropolitan counterparts, while having lower capacities to change. However, there is considerable variation among non-metropolitan regions. We argue that this variation can be captured theoretically by modelling the dynamic interplay between perceived and real opportunity spaces and agency. We empirically analyse regional change processes in 12 regions in the Nordics over a period of 30 years with a unique dataset. We find patterns of opportunity spaces and agency, which allow theoretical reflections about conditions and drivers for change, and has implications for place-based regional policy.",

keywords = "Agency and structure, change agency, comparative research design, opportunity spaces, regional development",

author = "Markus Grillitsch and Josephine Rekers and Bj{\"o}rn Asheim and Fitjar, \{Rune Dahl\} and Silje Haus-Reve and Jari Kolehmainen and Heli Kurikka and Karl-Johan Lundquist and Mikhail Martynovich and Skirmante Monteilhet and Hjalti Nielsen and Magnus Nilsson and Sami Sopanen and Markku Sotarauta and Linda Stihl",

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doi = "10.1177/0308518X241303636",

language = "English",

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journal = "Environment and Planning A",

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Grillitsch, M, Rekers, J, Asheim, B, Fitjar, RD, Haus-Reve, S, Kolehmainen, J, Kurikka, H, Lundquist, K-J, Martynovich, M, Monteilhet, S, Nielsen, H, Nilsson, M, Sopanen, S, Sotarauta, M & Stihl, L 2025, 'Patterns of opportunity spaces and agency across regional contexts: Conditions and drivers for change', Environment and Planning A, vol. 57, no. 2-3, pp. 159-183. https://doi.org/10.1177/0308518X241303636

TY - JOUR

T1 - Patterns of opportunity spaces and agency across regional contexts

T2 - Conditions and drivers for change

AU - Grillitsch, Markus

AU - Rekers, Josephine

AU - Asheim, Björn

AU - Fitjar, Rune Dahl

AU - Haus-Reve, Silje

AU - Kolehmainen, Jari

AU - Kurikka, Heli

AU - Lundquist, Karl-Johan

AU - Martynovich, Mikhail

AU - Monteilhet, Skirmante

AU - Nielsen, Hjalti

AU - Nilsson, Magnus

AU - Sopanen, Sami

AU - Sotarauta, Markku

AU - Stihl, Linda

PY - 2025

Y1 - 2025

N2 - Non-metropolitan regions are considered more exposed to external shocks than their metropolitan counterparts, while having lower capacities to change. However, there is considerable variation among non-metropolitan regions. We argue that this variation can be captured theoretically by modelling the dynamic interplay between perceived and real opportunity spaces and agency. We empirically analyse regional change processes in 12 regions in the Nordics over a period of 30 years with a unique dataset. We find patterns of opportunity spaces and agency, which allow theoretical reflections about conditions and drivers for change, and has implications for place-based regional policy.

AB - Non-metropolitan regions are considered more exposed to external shocks than their metropolitan counterparts, while having lower capacities to change. However, there is considerable variation among non-metropolitan regions. We argue that this variation can be captured theoretically by modelling the dynamic interplay between perceived and real opportunity spaces and agency. We empirically analyse regional change processes in 12 regions in the Nordics over a period of 30 years with a unique dataset. We find patterns of opportunity spaces and agency, which allow theoretical reflections about conditions and drivers for change, and has implications for place-based regional policy.

KW - Agency and structure

KW - change agency

KW - comparative research design

KW - opportunity spaces

KW - regional development

U2 - 10.1177/0308518X241303636

DO - 10.1177/0308518X241303636

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:85212985931

SN - 0308-518X

VL - 57

SP - 159

EP - 183

JO - Environment and Planning A

JF - Environment and Planning A

IS - 2-3

ER -

Patterns of opportunity spaces and agency across regional contexts: Conditions and drivers for change

Abstract

Keywords

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ASJC Scopus subject areas

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