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This is the first volume in a new series on 'Great Minds in Regional Science,' which seeks to present a contemporary view on the scientific relevance of the work done by great thinkers in regional science. It presents, among others, Walter Isard, Martin Beckmann and Gunnar Myrdal. Each contribution combines factual biographical information, a description of their major contributions, and a discussion of the broader context of the work, as well as an assessment of its current relevance, scientific recognition and policy impact. The book attempts to fill a gap in our knowledge, and to respond to the growing interest in the formation and development of the field of regional science and its key influential figures.
List of contents
Part I: Establishing Regional Science and the Regional Science Association.- Part II: Antecedents of Regional Science.- Part III: Laying the Foundation of Regional Science.
About the author
Peter Batey is the current President of The Regional Science Academy. He held the Lever Chair in Town and Regional Planning at the University of Liverpool until his retirement in 2015 and is now Emeritus Professor. A Past President of the Regional Science Association International (RSAI), Peter was elected a Fellow in 2006. He is the RSAI's Archivist and has a particular interest in the history of planning methodology.
David A. Plane is Professor of Geography and Regional Development at the University of Arizona in Tucson, where he has served on the faculty since 1981 and as Department Head from 1990 to 1997. He is a Fellow of the Regional Science Association International and the Western Regional Science Association. In 2013 he was honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award of the American Association of Geographers (AAG) Population Specialty Group.
Report
"I found the book an intriguing opus, with a high value added, for a number of reasons. ... The reader enjoys the richness of the book in explaining the scientific trajectories of the Great Minds. ... The reading of the book is a pleasant entertainment also because it explains the successful recipe to give rise to new theories and models, which I would summarize as a mix of culture, curiosity, courage and commitment." (Roberta Capello, Regional Science Policy & Practice, Vol. 14, 2022)
