Responding to a paper in this journal by Evans, we assess the relative role of equilibrium and disequilibrium in modeling regional growth and decline. While there are elements of both present, we find a preponderance of evidence that equilibrium forces are the dominant influence

We summarize a considerable body of recent literature on the role of amenities in regional growth and decline, finding amenities to be of increasing importance to the growth and decline of regions. It is likely that amenity forces become more important as the development process proceeds