Regional development involves a range of activities including economic growth and improvement in human conditions. It also addresses issues of social inclusion and sustainability. Regional development can take place in a wide variety of contexts, from subnational regions to global production networks and beyond.
Increasingly, studies of regional development focus on the role of noneconomic factors in its processes and outcomes. This includes sociocultural aspects and institutions, and a wide array of other issues that are generally considered as being noneconomic in nature. This goes far beyond the narrow, economic approach to regional development that has traditionally been analyzed by geographers.
In addition, there is a growing recognition of the importance of sustainability in regional development. This trend is motivated by the realization that there is a need to balance economic growth with environmental stewardship. This is accomplished by ensuring that new investments are not only economically sound but also sustainable and ecologically responsible.
As such, we encourage scholars to further explore the role of noneconomic factors and their impact on regional development. The research should consider how a broader understanding of the concept can improve existing policymaking and practice. Moreover, it should consider the implications of how these approaches can shape future development policies and initiatives. For example, by highlighting the importance of local agents in shaping new regional development trajectories (Grillitsch & Sotarauta, 2020). Such considerations can reveal how a region’s capacity to mobilize resources and power may lead to unexpected or even original regional scenarios.