Tolerance

The paper explores tolerance and its contextual embeddedness in urban and regional social milieus. It is currently not possible to fully explain why regions differ both in direction and dynamics of change over time. Recent research in economic geography - following the Romer-Lucas paradigm - shifted the focus towards investigating the impact of both codified and tacit knowledge on economic development. Research on creativity carries the argument a step further. Knowledge refers to a given stock; creativity, instead, is defined as exploring inventions via departing from conventional reasoning and praxis. The paper follows an evolutionary perspective and highlights to what extent tolerance may speed up both knowledge generation and knowledge absorption. To what extent is tolerance shaping urban and regional dynamics, based upon personal and institutional capabilities of venturing new ideas, technologies or organizational solutions? Local milieus that are characterized by tolerant and open attitudes shared by its residents might stimulate both economic and social change. Thus the paper allows some additional insight into the black box mechanics of why some cities grow and gain wealth, whereas others deteriorate.