Donald Planey

Bio: Donald Planey is an academic researcher from University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign. The author has contributed to research in topics: Equity (law) & Health equity. The author has an hindex of 2, co-authored 2 publications receiving 9 citations.

Policy cohesion and post-recession economic imaginaries: manufacturing discourse in the Chicago metropolitan region

Abstract: This paper examines the proliferation of the Chicago metropolitan region’s post-recession regional economic development initiatives, and a consequent shift towards manufacturing-centric development...

(Applied) geography, policy, & time: whither health and medical geography?

Abstract: ABSTRACT In this provocation, we discuss the potential for health/medical geography to contribute to a policy-relevant geographical research agenda that remains attentive to social theory debates. We illustrate the importance of time as a social determinant of health, through the case study of racial/ethnic inequities in spatial access to acute hospitals in the U.S. South region amid rural hospital closures, conversions, and mergers, which have decreased the supply of hospitals since 1990. In sum, racial disparities in spatial access were most pronounced for travel distances/times to the nearest alternative hospital, underscoring the importance of both temporal and spatial equity.

Structural Factors and Racial/Ethnic Inequities in Travel Times to Acute Care Hospitals in the Rural US South, 2007-2018.

Abstract: Policy Points Policymakers should invest in programs to support rural health systems, with a more targeted focus on spatial accessibility and racial and ethnic equity, not only total supply or nearest facility measures. Health plan network adequacy standards should address spatial access to nearest and second nearest hospital care and incorporate equity standards for Black and Latinx rural communities. Black and Latinx rural residents contend with inequities in spatial access to hospital care, which arise from fundamental structural inequities in spatial allocation of economic opportunity in rural communities of color. Long-term policy solutions including reparations are needed to address these underlying processes. CONTEXT The growing rate of rural hospital closures elicits concerns about declining access to hospital-based care. Our research objectives were as follows: 1) characterize the change in rural hospital supply in the US South between 2007 and 2018, accounting for health system closures, mergers, and conversions; 2) quantify spatial accessibility (in 2018) for populations most at risk for adverse outcomes following hospital closure-Black and Latinx rural communities; and 3) use multilevel modeling to examine relationships between structural factors and disparities in spatial access to care. METHODS To calculate spatial access, we estimated the network travel distance and time between the census tract-level population-weighted centroids to the nearest and second nearest operating hospital in the years 2007 and 2018. Thereafter, to describe the demographic and health system characteristics of places in relation to spatial accessibility to hospital-based care in 2018, we estimated three-level (tract, county, state-level) generalized linear models. FINDINGS We found that 72 (10%) rural counties in the South had ≥1 hospital closure between 2007 and 2018, and nearly half of closure counties (33) lost their last remaining hospital to closure. Net of closures, mergers, and conversions meant hospital supply declined from 783 to 653. Overall, 49.1% of rural tracts experienced worsened spatial access to their nearest hospital, whereas smaller proportions experienced improved (32.4%) or unchanged (18.5%) access between 2007 and 2018. Tracts located within closure counties had longer travel times to the nearest acute care hospital compared with tracts in nonclosure counties. Moreover, rural tracts within Southern states with more concentrated commercial health insurance markets had shorter travel times to access the second nearest hospital. CONCLUSIONS Rural places affected by rural hospital closures have greater travel burdens for acute care. Across the rural South, racial/ethnic inequities in spatial access to acute care are most pronounced when travel times to the second nearest open acute care hospital are accounted for.

Remaking Regional Economies: Power, Labor, and Firm Strategies in the Knowledge Economy

Abstract: For once the title says it all. To put the book edited by Timo Hämäläinen and Risto Heiskala in short, it aims to explain it all. Social Innovations, Institutional Change and Economic Performance aims to make sense of structural adjustment processes not only in industrial sectors, but also in regions and societies. As the Editors note in the introductory chapter, the historical paradigm shift has created a major structural adjustment challenge for the industrial societies and, as has been read over and over again, the old socio-economic structures inherited from the previous eras do not match with the rapidly emerging technological and economic environment. Hämäläinen and Heiskala argue for comprehensive and systemic innovations and structural renewal instead of investing only in research and development. It is easy to agree with them. They also maintain that the rapidly expanding body of innovation studies does not advise policy-makers on how to respond to the major structural adjustment challenges. So, the book aims to shed new light not only on the theoretical side of the coin, but also on the policy side. Hämäläinen and Heiskala declare themselves as believers in general theories and, in their case, the question is about a general theory of social innovation that could be applied at various analytical levels. The book argues that social innovations are needed for good economic performance and that by focusing on social innovations, it might be possible to gain a deeper understanding of transformation processes. And indeed, there is an obvious theoretical blind spot in relating transformation in the techno-economic subsystems to more slowly changing socio-institutional subsystems. Hämäläinen’s and Heiskala’s effort to construct a general theory of social innovation for structural adjustment is bold indeed, and it is consciously so, as they note, ‘such a theory would be a real breakthrough in social sciences as well as in private and public policy making’ (p. 2). Be it as bold as it may, there is a constant demand for theoretical steps forward that aim to provide us with insights on ‘big things’, and hence, in these times of extensive flow of case studies, this effort is to be warmly welcomed. The book is divided into two parts. The two chapters of the first part set the current techno-economic transformations into a longer historical perspective and elaborate the key concepts of this entire endeavour. The two chapters ‘Social innovation, structural adjustment and economic performance’ by Hämäläinen and ‘Social innovations: structural and power perspectives’ by Heiskala are designed to be complementary and provide the conceptual framework for the case analyses and the general work-in-progress theory. Both chapters are conceptually rich and thoroughly contemplated accounts of the main themes of the book. However, instead of being in line with each other, they seem to propose two rather different models of social and institutional change. Heiskala emphasizes the importance of analysing those social innovations that reshape institutions instead of studying the institutions themselves. Hämäläinen on his behalf is interested in society’s structural adjustment capacity and abilities to accommodate new ideas and practices. He is especially keen on finding ways to lessen the rigidities that lock us into the past trajectories and he emphasizes deliberate learning as a key in institutional adjustment. The lead chapters reveal both the strengths and the weaknesses of the book. Throughout the book, the reader can sense the enthusiasm and genuine search for new theory. This should be applauded as such. Simultaneously, the reader remains perplexed with a variety of approaches and definitions of the key concepts. Given that the two lead chapters, written by the Editors, are preceded by a ‘Prefatory chapter’ in which W. Richard Scott introduces his well-known take on institutions and social innovation and that each of the four case chapters creates its own conceptual framework, there is indeed a plethora of definitions and approaches. In his chapter, John Christoper Spender provides a short but useful discussion on how the Editors themselves differ in their definitions of social institution. According to Spender, Hämäläinen aligns himself with what is called the ‘new institutional’ position in sociology (POWELL and DIMAGGIO, 1991) and Heiskala with a dialectical position. Spender adopts the latter model to examine the complex relationship between the United States auto industry and national and local policies. Gerd Schienstock moves to elaborate Regional Studies, Vol. 43.4, pp. 637–641, May 2009

What is metropolitan planning and governance for

Abstract: This concluding chapter argues for a new role of planning in shaping metropolitan futures and reflects on the value of the book’s thematic-temporal-phronetic (TTP) framework—a meso-level approach to better understand the dynamics of contemporary metropolitan change. We begin by revealing the extent to which institutions, policies, spatial imaginaries and planning are influencing metropolitan development through a synthesis of the key outcomes emanating from the totality of the book contributions. The chapter then returns to the TTP framework to reflect on its tripartite rationale as well as its significance to international comparative research. Set against this context, the chapter then identifies four sets of issues that seem highly relevant to both shape future styles of governance and planning, and provide metropolitan regions with modes of working that could make a difference. We finally conclude with three open propositions relating to thematic, temporal and phronetic priorities for future research targeting the planning and governance of metropolitan regions.

The third city

Abstract: The Third City offers an innovative response to the troubled relationship between Western philosophy, as it has been conducted since the Renaissance, and the everyday lives of the communities in which we live. Bebek contends that the model of philosophical reflection is to be found in Plato's dialogues, which, rather than simply describing utopia through a series of abstract 'concepts', were instead designed to impel the learner towards a recognition of the true nature of reality – as much a 'self recognition' as an understanding of the world out there. Thus, in order to revive the spirit of true philosophy, it is necessary to avoid both the false extremes of idealism and materialism, and to allow ethics once more to merge with epistemology. This title presents an exposition of this ethically based philosophy, allowing the very human insights of Plato to illumine the diverse problems of today.

The Institutional Dynamics of Land Use Planning

Abstract: Abstract Problem, research strategy, and findings Manufacturing and industrial activity can contribute to sustainable economic development, but this potential is lost to urban industrial rezonings. This is particularly the case in strong market cities where pressures to develop higher-value residential and office space are strong. The literature has documented the industrial displacement process but has yet to probe the institutional factors behind industrial rezonings or the conditions that may catalyze supportive industrial land use policy. I contribute to filling this research gap by exploring how institutional dynamics shape industrial land use planning in San Francisco (CA). Drawing on interviews and document analysis, I show how formal governance institutions, locally embedded intermediary organizations, and policy imaginaries shape policy change. Despite success in redefining and promoting the value of urban industrial lands, ongoing pressures remain with balancing competing land use agendas and priorities. Takeaway for practice This research highlights the tradeoffs and pressures involved in creating urban industrial land use policy in high-cost cities. The case draws attention to the importance of considering how the local institutional context for policymaking intersects with industry and urban development dynamics rather than assuming market logic alone dictates land use. Planners can better balance competing land use agendas and achieve positive outcomes when they focus on controlling policy narratives and work with intermediary organizations that possess specialist knowledge and connections.