Reflections on the relevance of integrated multiregion models

This article examines the set of conceptual, theoretical, methodological and empirical developments in physics, wherein tremendous advances have been recently made. The validity of a pluralistic attack is demonstrated. For regional science this strongly suggests that scholars should pursue, sometimes simultaneously, sometimes sequentially, solid empirically-oriented studies, theories involving grand intuitive leaps, deterministic and non-deterministic models, micro- and macro-analyses, partial and general theories, dynamic and static models, and equilibrium and disequilibrium analyses. We should never hesitate to engage in integrated multiregion models or studies that can more effectively attack policy questions, even though we must combine approaches with some underlying inconsistencies.