An empirical analysis of the utility of a human ecological approach for explaining the level of urban economic development

Abstract

It has been postulated recently that planning analysis, and particularly economic development research, require more studies grounded in a sound theoretical base (Blakely 1989; Fosler 1988; Malizia 1986). If planning and economic development researchers choose to ignore this decree, they run the risk of losing further credibility and confidence in their fields, due to increased pressure being placed on them in this era of fiscal austerity. This dissertation uses the sociological theory of human ecology to better understand the effects of economic development on cities in the United States. The congruence between the fields of economic development and human ecology suggests the relevance of the use of this type of analysis. Both economic development and human ecology recognize the need to address the broadening international scope of economic and social influences on cities. As in contemporary human ecological research, this dissertation uses sustenance activity variables that have proven to be useful predictors of population migration and changes in economic and social conditions. Overall the results using multivariate techniques supported the hypothesized relationships between economic development factors and demographic and economic elements of city change. The findings also support the identification of specific sustenance-based activities as making a significant contribution to the understanding of the effects of economic development. The findings suggest that planners and economic development specialists can benefit from a theory's explanatory contribution to problem solving and decision making. The findings also suggest that human ecological theory can become more formalized, and thereby enhances its capability to address structural and process-related issues, such as economic development in communities. Thus, it is important for economic development planners and adherents of human ecology to continue their associated research efforts to expand the knowledge bases of both fields.