The use of game theory in regional economics: A quantitative retrospective

One of the most powerful tools within social science in general and economics in particular is game theory. This methodology allows for the formal analysis of the interactions among economic agents and, therefore, it is particularly useful for the study of economic decisions regarding spatial issues. For this reason, a quantitative systematization of the use of this tool on regional economics research is a relevant topic in the agenda concerned with progress in regional science. In this paper we study research in regional economics and provide a quantitative retrospective of the use of game theory in this field. Our main goal is twofold. First, we intend to categorize the contributions in the use of this analytical tool – by main research subjects, by authors' affiliations, by journal, etc. – using a bibliometric approach. Second, by analysing co‐authoring and using social network analysis, we want to test the existence of structures of knowledge upon which distinct co‐authorship emerges. The results of this research provide a framework for analysing the potential use of game theory in regional economics, suggesting new future research directions.