📖 Overview
Michael Storper is an economic geographer and professor at multiple institutions, including UCLA, Sciences Po Paris, and the London School of Economics. His research focuses on regional economies, globalization, technology, and the institutional foundations of economic development.
Storper's most influential work centers on the dynamics of regional economies and innovation systems, particularly his concept of the "regional world" which examines how regions function as key economic actors in the global economy. His book "The Regional World: Territorial Development in a Global Economy" (1997) is considered a foundational text in economic geography.
His research has made significant contributions to understanding why certain regions and cities thrive economically while others decline. The 2015 book "The Rise and Fall of Urban Economies: Lessons from San Francisco and Los Angeles" exemplifies this work through a comparative analysis of how these two major metropolitan regions diverged economically since 1970.
Storper is recognized as one of the most cited scholars in economic geography and regional studies. His theoretical frameworks combining economic, institutional, and social factors have influenced how researchers and policymakers approach regional development and urban economics.
👀 Reviews
Readers value Storper's data-driven analysis and detailed case studies, particularly in "The Rise and Fall of Urban Economies." Academic reviewers note his ability to explain complex economic geography concepts through concrete examples.
What readers liked:
- Clear explanation of why regions develop differently
- Thorough research methodology
- Practical implications for policy makers
- Integration of social and cultural factors with economic analysis
What readers disliked:
- Dense academic writing style can be challenging for non-specialists
- Some sections contain repetitive explanations
- High price point of academic texts limits accessibility
- Limited discussion of potential solutions in case studies
Ratings:
- Goodreads: 4.1/5 (based on 89 ratings)
- Amazon: 4.3/5 (42 reviews)
- Google Books: 4/5 (12 reviews)
One reader on Goodreads noted: "Excellent analysis but requires significant background knowledge." An Amazon reviewer wrote: "The comparative study of SF and LA offers invaluable insights, though the academic tone makes it less accessible than it could be."
📚 Books by Michael Storper
The Regional World: Territorial Development in a Global Economy (1997)
Examines how regions and territorial development function within globalization, introducing the concept of 'relational assets' in economic geography.
Worlds of Production: The Action Frameworks of the Economy (1997) Analyzes different production systems and their relationship to economic uncertainty and technological change.
Latecomers in the Global Economy (1998) Studies how late-industrializing countries and regions integrate into the global economy, with particular focus on East Asia and Latin America.
The Rise and Fall of Urban Economies: Lessons from San Francisco and Los Angeles (2015) Compares the divergent economic trajectories of San Francisco and Los Angeles from 1970 to the present, examining factors that led to their different outcomes.
Keys to the City: How Economics, Institutions, Social Interaction, and Politics Shape Development (2013) Explores why and how cities grow or decline, focusing on economic development, institutions, and social interactions in urban environments.
Governing the Large Metropolis (2014) Analyzes governance challenges in major metropolitan areas and examines different approaches to managing large urban regions.
Worlds of Production: The Action Frameworks of the Economy (1997) Analyzes different production systems and their relationship to economic uncertainty and technological change.
Latecomers in the Global Economy (1998) Studies how late-industrializing countries and regions integrate into the global economy, with particular focus on East Asia and Latin America.
The Rise and Fall of Urban Economies: Lessons from San Francisco and Los Angeles (2015) Compares the divergent economic trajectories of San Francisco and Los Angeles from 1970 to the present, examining factors that led to their different outcomes.
Keys to the City: How Economics, Institutions, Social Interaction, and Politics Shape Development (2013) Explores why and how cities grow or decline, focusing on economic development, institutions, and social interactions in urban environments.
Governing the Large Metropolis (2014) Analyzes governance challenges in major metropolitan areas and examines different approaches to managing large urban regions.
👥 Similar authors
Richard Florida studies urban economics and the creative class theory, focusing on how cultural and technological sectors drive city growth. His work on urban competitiveness and talent attraction parallels Storper's research on regional development dynamics.
AnnaLee Saxenian examines regional innovation systems and industrial clusters, with landmark studies of Silicon Valley and Route 128. Her analysis of technology regions and knowledge networks complements Storper's institutional approach to economic geography.
Allen Scott investigates cultural economies and production systems in metropolitan regions, particularly Los Angeles. His research on agglomeration economies and industrial organization builds on similar theoretical foundations as Storper's work.
Paul Krugman developed new economic geography theory explaining why economic activity concentrates in certain locations. His work on trade, geography, and increasing returns provides economic frameworks that intersect with Storper's institutional perspectives.
Saskia Sassen analyzes global cities and their role in the world economy through the lens of economic restructuring and social transformation. Her research on urban hierarchies and global economic networks addresses themes that overlap with Storper's studies of cities and regions.
AnnaLee Saxenian examines regional innovation systems and industrial clusters, with landmark studies of Silicon Valley and Route 128. Her analysis of technology regions and knowledge networks complements Storper's institutional approach to economic geography.
Allen Scott investigates cultural economies and production systems in metropolitan regions, particularly Los Angeles. His research on agglomeration economies and industrial organization builds on similar theoretical foundations as Storper's work.
Paul Krugman developed new economic geography theory explaining why economic activity concentrates in certain locations. His work on trade, geography, and increasing returns provides economic frameworks that intersect with Storper's institutional perspectives.
Saskia Sassen analyzes global cities and their role in the world economy through the lens of economic restructuring and social transformation. Her research on urban hierarchies and global economic networks addresses themes that overlap with Storper's studies of cities and regions.