Spatial Competition and Economic Policies: Discourses, Institutions and Everyday Practices

Today, the logic of competition is present in large parts of social reality and is likely to have a formative impact on human conduct. Against this background the transdisciplinary SPACE project is dedicated to the question of how the economic logic of competition has evolved in the history of economic theorizing, and how it transgresses from academic debates into political and public discourses, legal regulations, and everyday life. It represents a unique triangulation of three disciplines from the social sciences and the humanities, and connects high-level academic scrutiny with the daily experiences of individuals. By exploiting an innovative set of both qualitative and quantitative research methods, as well as by considering the perspectives of distinct research paradigms, the project first clarifies the historical origins and the contestedness of the concept or competition. Then, the project proceeds by focusing on the spatial aspect of competition and by investigating its transgression on three different reference levels: First, on the level of the legal framework of the EU and European nation states we use quantitative methods as well as interview techniques to answer two main questions: How does the economic logic of competition influences the formulation of such legal frameworks? And what are the socio-economic implications of these formulations? Second, on a municipal level, the projects uses expert interviews, discourse analysis and text mining techniques to investigate how the concept of competition impacts on the regulations and practices of institutions, and what this implies for the supply and organization of housing. Furthermore we ask, how the logic of competition enters into public discourse, thereby also focusing on changes in the framing of competition in these discourses during the last three decades. Third, on the level of individuals, we ask: how does the this logic impact on peoples everyday practices and their access to housing? How do people adopt, negotiate and transform the logic of competition in their everyday life? To answer these questions we employ a unique combination of ethnological research methods such as biographical interviews, focus groups and participant observations, with sociological and economic theories of competition. In the end, the project questions how such critical reflexion of the concept of competition can help people and policy makers to deconstruct and change the dominant conceptualization of competition, and what socio- economic implication are to be expected of this. Thereby, it makes innovative contributions, not only for the sphere of academia, but also all the individuals who face the implications of spatial competition in their daily life. The interdisciplinary composition of the research group and their strong ambition to disseminate central project results to political stakeholders and the public ensures a high societal and political impact of the project.

The interdisciplinary FWF Zukunftskolleg SPACE (Spatial Competition and Economic Policies) examined the growing importance of competition as a central principle in social, political, and economic structures. The research team, composed of 15 economists, sociologists, and anthropologists, found that competition has evolved into a comprehensive societal guiding principle influencing various aspects of life, including housing, science, and economic policy. This principle is increasingly shaping individual self-perception as competitive subjects. The project's interdisciplinary approach revealed how economic knowledge and competitive logics are embedded in different societal domains. Competition functions not only as an economic concept but also as a cultural and political principle, reinforcing social hierarchies and inequalities. One key finding from the four empirical work packages was that competition is being used more frequently as a governance tool to promote efficiency, performance, and innovation. This shift in perception has led to competition being viewed as an inevitable condition, though it often exacerbates social hierarchies and inequalities. In spatial contexts like cities and regions, competition emerged as an ambivalent force that influences both social and economic dynamics. At the micro-level, it can create new forms of exclusion, while at the macro-level, it may drive economic polarization or challenge existing inequalities and market logics. The housing sector illustrates this ambivalence. While increased competition for affordable housing leads to self-discipline among those seeking homes, the analysis of Vienna's housing construction competitions showed that competition can sometimes counter market logic. A significant aspect of the project was the role of competition in science. The findings indicate that competition in science increasingly serves as a mechanism for governing research activities. This is reflected in the organization of scientific careers, research funding, and publications. The pressure to succeed in competitive environments often leads to a focus on short-term successes and measurable outcomes, which can hinder long-term innovative research and interdisciplinary collaboration. Thus, the focus on competitiveness in science not only influences the research process but also the content and methods of science itself, sometimes leading to a narrowing of the scientific horizon. This competition is not only fought among individual scientists but also between institutions competing for resources and prestige. This is particularly evident at the macro level in the field of academic publishing, where competitive dynamics reinforce significant economic concentration trends. Finally, the project called for a critical examination of the role of competition in society to develop alternative models based on cooperation and sustainability. Research results were continuously published in a working paper series, presented as policy briefs, and disseminated through a podcast series and various media formats. For more information about the project, visit: www.spatial-competition.com.