Critical realist perspectives on the urban growth system

Why some cities have been able to sustain economic growth more than others, and how particular technological or sectoral break points shift a city's performance favourably (or unfavourably), present ongoing conundrums. Whilst single factor accounts – such as the skilled city creative appeal of analytical parsimony, geographers suggest that multiplicity structures, processes events typically sit behind originates is subsequently shaped. Given complexity, can we develop appropriate approaches theorising causality within urban systems? This paper presents case critical realism may perform useful ground-clearing role. With layered ontology at its core, coupled with recent literature providing greater guidance for empirical application, it argued complementary explanatory perspective.