Two perspectives define the debate over a general theory of urban political economy: Location theorists suggest needed social institutions develop around the nexus of cost efficiencies; proponents of regime theory and growth coalitions look to elite coordination to explain growth and the distribution of resources. The authors contend that coalitions do develop but occur in response to favorable cost factors and other geographically and technologically defined networks. Further, an evolutionary process is involved. Growth coalitions strive to and become regimes only to de-evolve into loosely coupled coalitions that respond to crises and opportunities but do not direct economic development.
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