Abstract This paper sets out to better understand the roles of various actors and actions in the ‘making’ of Galway city. From the formation of the state, with a population of just over 14,000, the city has enjoyed population growth rates above EU and Irish averages over the past three decades. This paper maps a series of growth phases resulting from sometimes deliberate and other times non-deliberate policy decisions. The theoretical lens adopted is that of evolutionary economic geography. This is an attempt to counteract the tendency in broader social science research to underplay geographical aspects, such as places, space and scales. Economic geography – and evolutionary economic geography in particular – better identifies the complexity and nuance of place development. Theorists such as Boschma (2017) and Martin & Sunley (2015) consider development as a path-dependent process. Development is situated and place-based. This requires a more historically attuned perspective and a recognition that the role played by institutions, government and policy is vital. The paper concludes with a broad reflection on the role of spatial development policy and the potential future development of the city.

中文翻译：

---

城市是谁造的？戈尔韦市的演变

摘要 本文旨在更好地了解各种参与者和行动在戈尔韦市“制造”中的作用。自该州成立以来，该市人口仅超过 14,000 人，在过去三十年中，该市的人口增长率高于欧盟和爱尔兰的平均水平。本文描绘了由有时是故意的和有时是非故意的政策决定所导致的一系列增长阶段。所采用的理论视角是演化经济地理学的视角。这是为了抵消更广泛的社会科学研究中低估地理方面（如地点、空间和尺度）的趋势。经济地理学——尤其是演化经济地理学——可以更好地识别地方发展的复杂性和细微差别。Boschma (2017) 和 Martin & 等理论家 Sunley (2015) 认为发展是一个依赖路径的过程。发展是基于位置和地方的。这需要更符合历史的观点，并认识到机构、政府和政策所发挥的作用至关重要。本文最后对空间发展政策的作用和城市未来的潜在发展进行了广泛的反思。