Abstract / Description of output
This paper investigates the relationship between culture and economy and scrutinizes cultural narratives of economic development in Kitchener-Waterloo, Southern Ontario. It argues for the need to carefully conceptualize the link between culture and economic development to avoid boosting deterministic stereotypes. In the case of Kitchener-Waterloo, a notable hub of high-technology firms and technology development, a link is frequently drawn between the German community and culture and the region’s economic growth. A social capital analysis however reveals that the German ethnic community neither has the strong professional internal ties nor the external social ties to other regional communities that could constitute a lead role in economic development. Rather, the legacy of Kitchener-Waterloo’s ethnic German population has been absorbed into the region’s self-image and creates a feeling of belonging and common reference points for social and economic initiatives in the region.
Original language | English |
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Number of pages | 17 |
Journal | The Canadian Geographer |
Early online date | 15 Jan 2019 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | E-pub ahead of print - 15 Jan 2019 |
Keywords / Materials (for Non-textual outputs)
- cultural narrative
- economic development
- German ethnic community
- Kitchener-Waterloo
- social capital