Johannes Glückler/ Harald Bathelt (Frankfurt am Main/ Marburg)

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The importance of resources in relational economic geography
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Pages 249 - 267


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From substantive concepts towards a relational
        perspective. In this paper, we aim to show that resources are of central
        importance in relational economic geography. Resources are constituted
        in a relational way in two aspects. First, resources are relational in
        that their generation, interpretation and use is contingent. This depends
        on the institutional structures and social interaction, as well as the
        knowledge contexts and mental models of the agents involved. Second, some
        types of resources, such as power and social capital, are also relational
        in that they cannot be possessed or controlled by individual agents. They
        are being built and mobilized through day-to-day social practices. Only
        the returns, and not the resources themselves, can be attributed to agents
        or groups of agents. We conclude that a relational concept of resources
        reflects the contextual and interactive nature of the selection, use and
        formation of resources. This offers new insights into the explanation
        of heterogeneity in firm strategies and trajectories, as well as regional
        differences in cluster development.

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