A comparison of land-use change theories: Providing a narrative synthesis

This study develops a comparative and integrative synthesis of urban land-use change (ULUC) theories to clarify their ontological assumptions, explanatory scope, and policy relevance. Drawing on a systematic literature review and a four-stage narrative synthesis framework, the paper organizes key theories into three ontological orientations—structuralist, institutional-relational, and individualistic—while situating them within Briassoulis’s broader typology of urban and regional economic, socio-political, and human–environment approaches. A comparative matrix, informed by Geels’ multi-paradigm analysis, identifies convergences, divergences, and conceptual gaps across the selected traditions. The analysis shows that ULUC is best understood as a multi-scalar process shaped by the interaction of macro-level structural forces, meso-level institutional arrangements, and micro-level strategic agency. Political economy perspectives explain the structural “why” of ULUC through capital accumulation, neoliberalization, and uneven spatial development; evolutionary and institutional approaches illuminate the “how long” and “by what rules” of spatial change through path dependency, institutional logics, and governance; and agent-based theories clarify the “who” through heterogeneous actors, bargaining, and decision-making in planning contexts. By linking these perspectives, the study moves beyond fragmented theoretical debates toward a middle-range framework that improves explanatory coherence and supports context-sensitive land-use planning. The synthesis also shows how theoretical insights can be translated into operational planning strategies.