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The consequences of timing norms and term limits on local agency

David, Lucinda LU (2022) In Environment and Planning A 54(1). p.122-135
Abstract

Incorporating time as a unit of analysis can enrich the study of agency by showing the specific ways in which actors are temporally constrained when responding to economic disturbances. In this paper, this is done by examining how the behavior of actors is affected by timing norms such as term limits that may be associated with an actor's position, as for example, an elected mayor or university vice-chancellor. Institutions such as timing norms and term limits shape, constrain, and enable actors in their efforts to persuade others to mobilize resources toward collective action and institutional change in regions. This paper shows the value of considering timing norms in the study of agency, by presenting a comparative case study of... (More)

Incorporating time as a unit of analysis can enrich the study of agency by showing the specific ways in which actors are temporally constrained when responding to economic disturbances. In this paper, this is done by examining how the behavior of actors is affected by timing norms such as term limits that may be associated with an actor's position, as for example, an elected mayor or university vice-chancellor. Institutions such as timing norms and term limits shape, constrain, and enable actors in their efforts to persuade others to mobilize resources toward collective action and institutional change in regions. This paper shows the value of considering timing norms in the study of agency, by presenting a comparative case study of local actors’ responses to the closure of large research and development facilities in two cities in Sweden. Main findings from interview material and supporting documents show that the possibility to renew term limits shape how actors pursue policy initiatives. These initiatives are found to be in sync with the term limits of these actors, particularly in the schedules of policy milestones and operations. However, this paper also finds that actors actively shape these temporal constructs in order to convince other actors to support collective action efforts. This paper contributes to a more time conscious account of agency, with its cases pointing to the importance of investigating institutions with temporal dimensions that help explain how agentic processes are carried out.

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Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Agency, institutional change, institutions, term limits, timing norms
in
Environment and Planning A
volume
54
issue
1
pages
122 - 135
publisher
Pion Ltd
external identifiers
  • scopus:85117419423
ISSN
0308-518X
DOI
10.1177/0308518X211049448
language
English
LU publication?
yes
additional info
Publisher Copyright: © The Author(s) 2021.
id
488e2edf-5b1a-420c-a9a9-35cfd094bfa0
date added to LUP
2021-11-16 09:30:57
date last changed
2022-04-19 17:50:06
@article{488e2edf-5b1a-420c-a9a9-35cfd094bfa0,
  abstract     = {{<p>Incorporating time as a unit of analysis can enrich the study of agency by showing the specific ways in which actors are temporally constrained when responding to economic disturbances. In this paper, this is done by examining how the behavior of actors is affected by timing norms such as term limits that may be associated with an actor's position, as for example, an elected mayor or university vice-chancellor. Institutions such as timing norms and term limits shape, constrain, and enable actors in their efforts to persuade others to mobilize resources toward collective action and institutional change in regions. This paper shows the value of considering timing norms in the study of agency, by presenting a comparative case study of local actors’ responses to the closure of large research and development facilities in two cities in Sweden. Main findings from interview material and supporting documents show that the possibility to renew term limits shape how actors pursue policy initiatives. These initiatives are found to be in sync with the term limits of these actors, particularly in the schedules of policy milestones and operations. However, this paper also finds that actors actively shape these temporal constructs in order to convince other actors to support collective action efforts. This paper contributes to a more time conscious account of agency, with its cases pointing to the importance of investigating institutions with temporal dimensions that help explain how agentic processes are carried out.</p>}},
  author       = {{David, Lucinda}},
  issn         = {{0308-518X}},
  keywords     = {{Agency; institutional change; institutions; term limits; timing norms}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{1}},
  pages        = {{122--135}},
  publisher    = {{Pion Ltd}},
  series       = {{Environment and Planning A}},
  title        = {{The consequences of timing norms and term limits on local agency}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0308518X211049448}},
  doi          = {{10.1177/0308518X211049448}},
  volume       = {{54}},
  year         = {{2022}},
}