Geoscience Reference
In-Depth Information
2
The Spatial Economy: A Holistic Perspective
Peter Nijkamp and Waldemar Ratajczak
Abstract
This paper offers a concise holistic-historical perspective on regional science. It
positions regional science among various related disciplinary approaches and
presents a comprehensive image of its multi-faceted architecture.
2.1
Structure and Connectivity in Space
Regional science has a history of more than half a century old. It has found its roots
in the explicit recognition of the importance of space in social science research.
Space is not only an attribute of any phenomenon on earth (in terms of its
geographical coordinates), but it also functions as a facilitator for or barrier to
human interactions (Isard
1956
,
1960
).
Right from the outset there has been a debate on the semantics of 'regional
science'. Regional science is a scientific endeavour that addresses the indigenous
role of space (including regions, cities, environment, infrastructure, communica-
tion) in various social-science oriented issues, such as socio-economic disparities,
regional and urban growth, or transport logistics. In the literature the question has
sometimes been raised whether regional science should not be replaced by 'spatial
science', a term that also nowadays is still often used in several countries. As argued
by Barnes (
2004
), the term 'spatial science' (or perhaps 'spatial analysis') would
