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Directionality and subsidiarity : sustainability challenges in regional development policy

Grillitsch, Markus LU orcid ; Coenen, Lars LU and Morgan, Kevin (2025) In Regional Studies 59(1).
Abstract

This paper investigates how regional development policy can combine directionality in addressing societal challenges with subsidiarity, emphasising local participation and engagement. We revisit the theoretical foundations of the ‘entrepreneurial discovery process’ as the main mechanism for local engagement in current European Union regional policy frameworks. In its place, we propose an alternative theory of change with purposive collective action at its centre and discuss (1) how it differs from the entrepreneurial discovery process in terms of opportunity framings, scope for agency and balancing directionality with subsidiarity; and (2) why it is more effective in fostering sustainable regional transformations.

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author
; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
discovery process, policy agency, regional development, regional development policy, Smart Specialisation, sustainability transitions
in
Regional Studies
volume
59
issue
1
article number
2492171
publisher
Taylor & Francis
external identifiers
  • scopus:105004826294
ISSN
0034-3404
DOI
10.1080/00343404.2025.2492171
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
39bdefb5-5c59-4aa0-b5af-cf9a1cacdfbb
date added to LUP
2025-09-19 14:59:20
date last changed
2025-09-19 14:59:52
@article{39bdefb5-5c59-4aa0-b5af-cf9a1cacdfbb,
  abstract     = {{<p>This paper investigates how regional development policy can combine directionality in addressing societal challenges with subsidiarity, emphasising local participation and engagement. We revisit the theoretical foundations of the ‘entrepreneurial discovery process’ as the main mechanism for local engagement in current European Union regional policy frameworks. In its place, we propose an alternative theory of change with purposive collective action at its centre and discuss (1) how it differs from the entrepreneurial discovery process in terms of opportunity framings, scope for agency and balancing directionality with subsidiarity; and (2) why it is more effective in fostering sustainable regional transformations.</p>}},
  author       = {{Grillitsch, Markus and Coenen, Lars and Morgan, Kevin}},
  issn         = {{0034-3404}},
  keywords     = {{discovery process; policy agency; regional development; regional development policy; Smart Specialisation; sustainability transitions}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{1}},
  publisher    = {{Taylor & Francis}},
  series       = {{Regional Studies}},
  title        = {{Directionality and subsidiarity : sustainability challenges in regional development policy}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00343404.2025.2492171}},
  doi          = {{10.1080/00343404.2025.2492171}},
  volume       = {{59}},
  year         = {{2025}},
}