Edward Elgar Publishing Handbook of Proximity Relations

This Handbook is a state-of-the-art analysis of proximity relations, offering insights into its history alongside up-to-date scientific advances and emerging questions. Its broad scope – from industrial and innovation approaches through to society issues of living and working at a distance, territorial development and environmental topics – will ensure an in-depth focus point for researchers in economics as well as geography, organizational studies, planning and sociology. Split into four distinctly thematic parts, the Handbook explores the precise definition of proximity relationships and their diversity, including the role they play in social and economic interactions as well as examining the origins and evolution of such relationships. It further presents a detailed overview of the main methods of analysis, highlighting the link between proximity relationships and exchange of information while explaining how exchanges at a distance rely on links of organized proximity, something that plays an increasing role in our societies.This engaging Handbook will provide an excellent update for scientists and researchers on the recent developments in the analysis of proximity relations as well as students looking for precise and detailed information on the main characteristics of proximity relations, regional and spatial analysis, and the major analytical tools. Review ‘Finally, we have the first Handbook of Proximity Relations, edited by André Torre, one of the pioneers of the French School of Proximity, and Delphine Gallaud. It covers topics such as the theoretical development of the concept, methods and analytical tools, and emerging issues and future challenges. This authoritative and comprehensive Handbook is a must-read for researchers in regional science, regional studies and innovation who want to be informed about one of the key concepts in modern social science.’ -- Bjørn T. Asheim, University of Stavanger, Norway‘This Handbook provides a systematic overview of the contributions of the Proximity School. Incorporating a variety of disciplinary perspectives and analytic approaches, the Handbook provides a comprehensive overview and systematic analysis of the dimensions, characteristics, and fields of application of the principle of proximity. This important contribution provides the basis for future theoretical extension, analytical refinements and policy applications.’ -- Maryann Feldman, University of North Carolina US'''Proximity'' is a very difficult word. It appears at the outset to be no more than an innocuous reference to physical contiguity or juxtaposition, but on further scrutiny unfolds into multiple declensions with a vast diversity of applications in both the physical and social worlds. A large body of research on these matters has accumulated rapidly over the last two or three decades, much of it now summarized and extended in this authoritative Handbook edited by André Torre and Delphine Gallaud.' -- From the foreword by Allen J. Scott About the Author Edited by André Torre, University of Paris-Saclay, INRAE and Delphine Gallaud, Agrosup Dijon, France