The aim of this article is to better understand the relationship between industrial culture and human agency and how it influences development outcomes. The study is set in the geographical context ...of three small and old industrial towns, where traditional industrial practices are embedded in the material and institutional environment and people's behaviours that form a distinctive industrial culture. Conceptually, we use a relational perspective to investigate the dialectic between human agency and industrial culture: we examine how industrial culture can guide human agency–through motivation, legitimation, or specific behaviour; and how human agency reshapes industrial culture through its actions–destruction, modification, maintenance of cultural assets. The results show that a strong industrial culture implies a more reproductive type of agency and a pronounced collective behaviour of actors, aiming at a more incremental development that reflects the existing place-based culture. In the case where industrial culture is thinner, new development relied on individual agents completely altering development paths. Our research places particular emphasis on collective assets and collective agency in the context of smaller towns with strong industrial culture and their ability to influence the direction of future development. In addition, we emphasise the simultaneous role of (individual) change and (collective) reproductive/maintenance agency, which can lead to stable development without major disruptions to the institutional or cultural context. Our findings are important for understanding small industrial communities and how the collective aspects of industrial culture require that new development initiatives are aligned with industrial traditions and place-based culture.
This paper is part of the research on functional roles of European towns conducted by a group of researchers gathered around the ESPON project ‘TOWN’. Building on the systematic analysis of the ...socio‐economic dynamics of 31 European small and medium‐sized towns (SMSTs), we identified three profiles of their local economies. The first profile is defined as a dominant ‘residential’ economy that mostly relies on local activities that satisfy the needs of people in an area (residents, commuters or tourists). The second profile corresponds to a dominant ‘productive’ economy based on the production of goods and services to be mainly exported and consumed out of its area. The third profile is the mixed type that is characterised by an important share of activities in productive and residential sector with a complementary ‘creative‐knowledge’ dimension, based on entrepreneurship, creativity and collaboration in innovation. Moreover, we analysed the economic performance and the shift in profiles in order to detect in which way towns make choices between residential economy, competitiveness and innovation for their local development.
This contribution applies a functional‐spatial perspective to the study of small and medium‐sized towns. A methodology for functional analysis is developed and tested to identify towns, distinguish ...towns from cities, and detect town positionality within urban territorial arrangements, focusing on whether they are autonomous, networked with other towns or agglomerated with large cities. The methodology is used to compare settlement systems in two regions and two countries in Europe by looking at the existence and nature of networks between towns and cities and how towns perform in terms of population and jobs in respect of their belonging to different types of territorial arrangement.
This paper addresses the ‘policy dimension’ of the TOWN project drawing on the implications of the case studies for policy(ies) for small and medium‐sized towns (SMSTs) across Europe. It first ...considers approaches at European and national levels to SMSTs arguing in recent years there has been limited recognition that SMSTs have a significant role to play in the European territory. The paper provides an illustrative selection of towns from the ten case study countries. The research shows that the category SMSTs contains a varied and often dissimilar group of towns in a wide variety of regional contexts. This is true not only between countries but within them. The results indicate that while there are actions to support SMSTs that can be done at European level a prescriptive ‘one‐size fits all’ approach should be avoided. Policy approaches should be developed within particular national and regional contexts supported by the European level.
The paper deals with spatial-functional patterns in the European urban system, with a special focus on metropolitan functions in small and medium-sized towns. Based on the assumption that ...metropolitan functions can also be found outside of large cities, the location of metropolitan functions in three city size classes (small towns, small medium-sized towns and large medium-sized towns) is examined. This confirms the assumption that there is a positive statistical correlation between town size and the localization of metropolitan functions and that medium-sized towns - in contrast to small towns - have on average more comprehensive metropolitan functions. A location-based differentiation of small and medium-sized towns (within or outside metropolitan areas) shows a clear influence of the location on the distribution of metropolitan functions. Thus, borrowing size effects can be observed for the two metropolitan subfunctions science and transport.
The paper deals with spatial-functional patterns in the European urban system, with a special focus on metropolitan functions in small and medium-sized towns. Based on the assumption that ...metropolitan functions can also be found outside of large cities, the location of metropolitan functions in three city size classes (small towns, small medium-sized towns and large medium-sized towns) is examined. This confirms the assumption that there is a positive statistical correlation between town size and the localization of metropolitan functions and that medium-sized towns - in contrast to small towns - have on average more comprehensive metropolitan functions. A location-based differentiation of small and medium-sized towns (within or outside metropolitan areas) shows a clear influence of the location on the distribution of metropolitan functions. Thus, borrowing size effects can be observed for the two metropolitan subfunctions science and transport.
There have been many problems associated with underutilized areas in towns, although they also offer significant potential for urban renewal, especially in post-communist, post-socialist countries, ...where a series of key historical events has caused socio-economic and political changes leading to urban decay. The underlying feature of unused areas is their apparent abandonment, absence of use, lack of identity but high potential. However, not all unused areas should be labelled as brownfields; therefore, we studied the terms commonly used to describe underutilized areas. We chose the term terrain vague to map and describe all apparently empty but still intriguing spaces in our model towns of Humenné, Strážske and Vranov and Topľou, in eastern Slovakia. Our paper aims to create a typology of terrain vague to better understand its manifestation in our conditions. It also aims to determine the causes that led to its emergence or as we call it the emergence mechanisms, in the context of post-industrial small and middle-sized towns in Slovakia. We combined field survey and desktop analysis methods to map terrain vague based on set criteria. We evaluated mapped terrain vague and, using the data, created a typology of terrain vague consisting of nine types and identified three key emergence mechanisms and their subcategories. We based them on commonly used terms that fit within the specific context of our model towns. By using the new typology and emergence mechanism, we can identify patterns running along towns with similar backgrounds that result in similar problems and develop solutions accordingly. Results of our research could be generalized and serve as a basis for future research aimed at finding strategies for revitalizing terrain vague in shrinking post-industrial towns facing different problems than prosperous cities.
Knowledge about economic characteristics and development dynamics of small and medium-sized towns (SMSTs) is scarce. The aim of this article is to present insights into economic characteristics and ...development dynamics of SMSTs in Switzerland and to conceptualize the linkages of SMSTs with neighboring centers and hinterlands. SMSTs in Switzerland are independent jurisdictions that are in charge of their economic development strategies, tax base, etc, which can shape their socio-economic characteristics independently of the larger urban agglomeration they belong to. This circumstance makes them especially interesting for research particularly regarding the economic heterogeneity, socioeconomic performance and functional linkages these SMSTs have. The article presents seven types of SMSTs that have different economic characteristics and socio-economic dynamics. The types were built using cluster analysis. The typology shows that SMSTs can have different economic characteristics and development dynamics despite being embedded in the same regional context. For analyzing relationships between cluster membership and linkages to neighboring centers, we carried out an analysis of variance. It can be inferred that the intensity of linkages of SMSTs vary according to the type of SMSTs. Obwohl klein- und mittelgrosse Städte (SMSTs) wichtige Funktionen in nationalen urbanen Systemen haben, ist wenig Wissen über sie vorhanden. Dieser Artikel hat daher das Ziel, einen Einblick in wirtschaftliche Charakteristiken und Entwicklungsdynamiken von SMSTs in der Schweiz zu geben und deren Verbindungen zu den benachbarten Städten und Umland zu konzeptualisieren. SMSTs in der Schweiz können Strategien zur wirtschaftlichen Entwicklung, Steuersätze, etc. selber festlegen und somit ihre sozioökonomische Entwicklung auch unabhängig von grösseren städtischen Agglomerationen beeinflussen. Dieser Umstand macht die Schweizer SMSTs hinsichtlich wirtschaftlicher Heterogenität, sozioökonomischer Charakteristiken und funktionellen Verbindungen spannend für die Forschung. Mit Hilfe einer Cluster Analyse wurden sieben SMST Typen gebildet, welche verschiedene wirtschaftliche Charakteristiken und sozioökonomische Dynamiken aufweisen. Die Analyse zeigt, dass SMSTs trotz Einbettung in derselben Region, unterschiedliche wirtschaftliche Charakteristiken und Entwicklungsdynamiken haben. Um die Beziehung zu benachbarten Städten und dem Umland zu analysieren, wurde eine Varianzanalyse durchgeführt. Die Ergebnisse deuten darauf hin, dass je nach Typ von SMST die Intensität der Verbindungen zu anderen Orten unterschiedlich ist.
Purpose
This paper aims to examine the emergence of passion-driven entrepreneurship within the context of small and medium-sized towns (SMSTs). SMSTs are seen as peripheral areas lacking the ...resources to support autonomous economic development and renewal. The paper explores the relationship between entrepreneurship and the context of SMSTs through the concepts of entrepreneurial passion (EP) and domain passion (DP). Industrial marketing and purchasing approach is adopted as a theoretical foundation to conduct the analysis through the actors–activities–resource framework.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper adopts a multiple case-study methodology. Two passion-driven entrepreneurial ventures (PDEVs) have been traced from the conception of the initial idea until the new ventures establishment.
Findings
EP and DP emerge as key resources in transforming the initial idea into a real entrepreneurial venture in resource-scarce settings as SMSTs. Shared passion fosters the involvement of local actors and the propensity to overcome relevant hurdles in the entrepreneurial process.
Originality/value
This paper contributes to the literature on entrepreneurship through the analysis of the role of PDEVs in SMSTs’ contexts. It highlights the role of “passion for place” as a new dimension of passion in entrepreneurial studies. From a managerial perspective, it emphasizes the role of passion as a key resource for networking and marketing. From a policy perspective, it calls for monitoring and support for training, funding and networking.
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