http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolecon.2015.02.025.
(http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0921800915000725)
Keywords : Qualitative discourse analysis ; Quantitative textual analysis ; ALCESTE ; Similarity analysis ; IRaMuTeQ ; Land-use policies
A b s t r a c t :
Local land-use policies are determined by a wide range of considerations that do not always favor open-space
preservation. To identify them, a field study was undertaken in South Eastern France via semi-directive interviews
with people responsible for municipal land-use policies. We use it to compare a qualitative (i.e. manual)
discourse analysis with two quantitative (i.e. computer-assisted) analyses and combine them to identify the
drivers of land-use policies, especially with regard to urban sprawl. Performing all three analyses allows us to
switch back and forth between a localempirical approach and large-scalemodeling and methods. This should enrich
micro-economicmodels by clarifying more complex local features, like unbalanced relationships with neighboring
municipalities or why “agriculture” should be considered as an independent interest group.
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