A Limitless Urban Theory? A Response to Scott and Storper's ‘The Nature of Cities: The Scope and Limits of Urban Theory'

The recent article in this journal by Scott and Storper (2015) suggested that the field of urban studies currently contains a multitude of varied theoretical viewpoints and argued for a unified general urban theory encompassing all urban scholarly work. Their proposal is that such a theory is based upon a foundational understanding of agglomeration and clustering. This response counter‐argues this, suggesting that such a proposal leaves urban theory too instrumental, deterministic and economistic. Moreover, Scott and Storper argue that there is a need to isolate the urbanization process from a wider suite of social, cultural and economic processes in which the urban is said to be ‘embedded'. If we are to embrace a unified urban theory, however, it should be one which views cities as differing intensities of an urbanization process, and does not try to draw arbitrary boundaries about what is and what is not a city. If we are to strive for a general urban theory, then it would be far more beneficial to champion an ontology of an urbanization process with varying degrees of (de)intensification.     

From pushchairs to wheelchairs: understanding tensions in family decision making through the experiences of adult children caring for ageing parents

Abstract

Within a modern family life, roles have changed significantly; however, relatively little attention has been given to the increased health and longevity of parents. This article focuses on the tensions relating to the transitional role of parent as ‘carer of the child’ to child as ‘carer of the parent’ as parents age. This article focuses on the experiences of adult children as they care for their parents and the related tensions that emerge and coping strategies that are adopted. Adopting an interpretive approach we shed light on the decision-making practices around shopping, residential arrangements and other consumer choices and how they take place in complex arenas of intricate family interactions, influence and power. Key themes that emerged were strategies adopted by both the adult child and ageing parent to attain or retain control in an increasingly sensitive environment where there is no roadmap to guide either party.     

ESTIMATES OF THE VALUE OF HOUSEHOLD WORK CANADA, 1961 and 1971*

The paper presents some estimates of the imputed dollar value of household work (HW)for Canada in 1961 and 1971, finding this to be about $16 and $38 billion respectively, equal to 40 percent of GNP. From the results we derive some implications about five questions raised in the relevant literature. First, no clear evidence of a downward trend for the ratio HW/GNP is found, contrary to U.S. results. Second, addition of HW to GNP as a welfare measure does not affect the general pattern of past growth estimates. Third, a cost–by-function method of estimating HW is found superior in its theoretical support and the detail it provides, but the opportunity-cost method, despite doubts on its theoretical validity, gives a good approximation in the aggregate, and, being simpler, is likely to remain popular. Fourth, disaggregation does matter if detail by region or family type is required, in which case data by number and ages of children and market-employment status of females are needed; for the total, a reasonable estimate (6–7 percent error)is given by further aggregated data. Fifth, sensitivity of HW to accuracy in the data used is large only for female wages chosen, in particular for the function “cooking”. Finally, though available data must be manipulated to fit the needs of HW, especially for earlier years, the extent of this is not all that much more than is commonly found for GNP estimations.     

Recent trends in trade among developing countries

The paper presents the early results of empirical work on trade among developing countries. The main conclusion is that non-fuel trade among developing countries, excluding capital surplus oil exporters, remained a remarkably stable share of their total trade between 1963 and 1977. This constancy does, however, conceal two interesting opposing trends: The share of manufactures exported to developing countries has been falling sharply, while that of non-fuel primary commodities has been rising, the latter largely because of the demands of the newly industrializing countries. Nevertheless, the dynamism of manufactures has meant that they make up an increasing share of trade among developing countries. Four particular points emerge from the evidence: (i) there is no obvious sign of a bias against trade among developing countries, except whatever effect their own commercial policies may have; (ii) the more inward-looking countries tend to send a higher proportion of their exports to other developing countries and regional integration strengthens this effect; (iii) exports of manufactures to developing countries are much more capital intensive than those to industrialized countries; and (iv) exports to developing country markets may not be the vital first stage for capital goods exports that is sometimes supposed.     

A Socio‐Psychological Perspective on Team Ambidexterity: The Contingency Role of Supportive Leadership Behaviours

In addressing the notion of team ambidexterity, we propose that socio‐psychological factors (i.e., team cohesion and team efficacy) may help team members to resolve paradoxical challenges and to combine exploratory and exploitative learning efforts. In addition, we theorize that senior executives may play an important role in facilitating the emergence of ambidexterity at lower hierarchical levels. In doing so, we develop a multilevel contingency framework and propose that the effectiveness of teams to achieve ambidexterity is contingent upon supportive leadership behaviours at the organizational‐level. Using multilevel, multisource, and temporally separated data on 87 teams within 37 high‐tech and pharmaceutical firms, we not only reveal how team cohesion and efficacy may matter for the emergence of team ambidexterity but also show that the effectiveness of supportive leadership behaviours from senior executives varies across cohesive and efficacious teams.     

The process safety impact of distributed control systems

Experience has shown that a Distributed Control System (DCS) can provide enhanced process monitoring and control capabilities, as well as system self-diagnostics, that permit increased safety of process operations. However, this enhanced safety does not come about automatically with the installation of a DCS. The complexity and versatility of the DCS can introduce new failure scenarios leading to process upset and potential relization of process hazards. This paper reviews some novel considerations that should be taken into account when conducting process hazards reviews on facilities controlled by a DCS.     

Beyond Urban Subcultures: Urban Subversions as Rhizomatic Social Formations

The article discusses what we term urban social formations and expands on prior work that predominantly examines urban ‘subcultures’ as opposed to the world city paradigm and homogeneous cityscapes. We describe the process of ‘subculturalization’ through which urban social formations, after they have been marginalized and illegalized, become formalized as subcultures and incorporated into the fabric of consumption and profit making. The article proposes that these ossified moments of crystallized practice are only part of wider rhizomatic territories that remain open fields for urban engagement, inviting fluid urban identities and creative states of becoming. The article concludes by exploring the challenges and opportunities of conceptualizing urban social formations as rhizomes.     

The direction of developing country trade: Empirical evidence of differences between South-South and South-North trade

Declining market opportunities in Northern markets led to views that greater South-South trading might provide an alternative growth stimulus. This paper analyses the characteristics of South-South trade in manufactures and recent changes in the level of such trade to help clarify the potential of greater self-reliance within the South. South-South trade is found to be more intensive in the use of both physical and human capital, hence less rational from the static comparative advantage viewpoint than South-North trade. There is indirect but strong evidence that exporting countries with greatest orientation towards the South are those with greater distortions, less rapid movements up the ladder of comparative advantage, and weaker export performance. Finally, it is observed that the recent boom in South-South trade is largely explained by simple market size effects: very rapid growth of rich oil-exporters and the faster GNP growth of developing compared to developed countries. The paper concludes that while South-South trade of about the present magnitude-one of greater developing country exports - is certainly rational, there is little evidence to support views that greater South-South trade should be especially promoted. Arguments of dynamic comparative advantage may favor South-South trade, but so far these have been more speculative and not yet well researched empirically.     

Is there cause for export optimism? An inquiry into the existence of a second generation of successful exporters

Zusammenfassung Gibt es Anla\ zu Export-Optimismus? — In den sechziger und frühen siebziger Jahren trat die erste Generation von Entwicklungsl?ndern als “neu-industrialisierte” Volkswirtschaften hervor, die ein schnelles Wachstum aufgrund eines Booms von Fertigwarenexporten verzeichneten. Da sich dies bei stark expandierendem Welthandel abspielte, wurde angenommen, da\ die nach 1973 eingetretene Abschw?chung andere L?nder von einer solchen Entwicklung ausschlie\en würde. Wie in diesem Aufsatz gezeigt wird, dehnten aber zwischen 1970 und 1979 ungef?hr zw?lf Entwicklungsl?nder ihre Fertigwarenexporte sogar schneller aus als die neu-industrialisierten L?nder, und zwar bei den gleichen Gütern und auf denselben Auslandsm?rkten. Dies zeigt, da\ eine zweite Generation von L?ndern mit hohen Fertigwarenexporten imstande war, dem Beispiel der neu-industrialisierten Volkswirtschaften trotz ungünstigerer Rahmenbedingungen zu folgen.

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Résumé Y a-t-il des causes pour un optimisme d’exportations? — Pendant les années soixante et les premières années soixante-dix la première génération des pays en voie de développement s’élevait comme économies ?nouvellement industrialisées? qui faisaient l’expérience d’une croissance économique rapide associée avec un flot des exportations manufacturières. Comme ce succès se passait aux environs globaux d’un commerce mondial qui s’étendait considérablement, on a pensé que la récession après 1973 exclurait d’autres pays de suivre la même voie. Les auteurs, cependant, démontrent dans l’article que pendant la période 1970–1979 environ douze pays développants augmentaient leurs exportations manufacturières même plus rapidement que les pays ?nouvellement industrialisés?, et cette expansion se passait dans les mêmes produits et sur les mêmes marchés. Cela démontre qu’une deuxième génération des pays développants était capable de suivre l’expérience des économies ?nouvellement industrialisées? malgré des environs moins réceptifs à la croissance exportatrice.

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Resumen ? Está fundamentado el optimismo basado en las exportaciones ? — En los a?os sesenta y principios de los setenta la primera generación de países en desarrollo emergió como ?nuevas economías industrializadas?, registrando rápidas tasas de crecimiento asociadas con una vigorosa exportación de manufacturas. El hecho de que esto último ocurriera dentro del marco de un comercio internacional fuertemente en expansión, fué la causa de que se pensara, que la floja coyuntura despúes de 1973 evitaría que otros países pudieran seguir la misma pauta. El artículo muestra sin embargo, que en el período 1970–1979 unos doce países incrementaron sus exportaciones de manufacturas incluso más rápidamente de lo que lo hicieran los llamados ?nuevos países industrializados?, y haciéndolo además en los mismos productos y mercados. Esto pone de manifiesto, que a pesar de unas circunstancias no tan favorables para el crecimiento de la exportatión, una segunda generación de exportadores de manufacturas fué capaz de seguir el ejemplo de las nuevas economías industrializadas.