Chapter 6: Space–Economy Interactions in the Context of Sustainability

The overriding theme of this section of the book is dealing with complexity. Each of the three contributions considers the importance of space — economy interactions at multiple levels, but in three different settings: urban regions within their hinterlands; households and their members; intra-urban and inter-urban transport and their networks. The complexity comes most of all from how decisions affecting the sustainability of transport are made. These are rarely made by a single actor in an isolated fashion. Short-term personal choices (such as where to shop) are conditioned by strategic choices (such as where to live) made by the same individuals, and by those with whom they live or work (Miller, 2005). Analogous observations may be made about decisions by shippers of goods, although it may be argued that they respond more predictably than private individuals or households to regulatory and market signals. Additional complexity derives from the aggregate effects of the decisions of others, as in the case of adaptations to congestion, or such phenomena as “commons dilemmas” in response to the promotion of environmentally friendly travel behaviours.