Comparing causal logics: A configurational analysis of proximities using simulated data

Rutten Roel ()
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Rutten Roel: Tilburg School of Social and Behavioural SciencesPO Box 901535000 LE TilburgTilburgThe Netherlands

ZFW – Advances in Economic Geography, 2020, vol. 64, issue 3, 134-148

Abstract: Unnoticed by economic geography for fifteen years, Boschma’s (2005) proximity paper conflates two different causal logics: regularity and substantive interpretation. The former is dominant in variable-based methods, the latter in case-based methods. Using the proximities approach as an example, this paper explains the differences between both logics. A QCA (Qualitative Comparative Analysis) study on simulated data demonstrates how case-based methods use substantive interpretation for causal inference. QCA is an important innovation in case-based methods that, thus far, economic geography has largely missed. QCA challenges the search for causal effects of individual causes and presents configurational causality as a compelling alternative.

Keywords: Causality; critical realism; innovation; proximities; QCA (Qualitative Comparative Analysis) (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:bpj:zfwige:v:64:y:2020:i:3:p:134-148:n:2

DOI: 10.1515/zfw-2019-0023

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