INTRODUCTION: WHITHER SPATIAL ECONOMETRICS?
本文是特刊引言，概述了空间计量经济学在区域科学中的应用现状与争议，并介绍了三篇论文提出的改革方向：放弃标准方法、采用非参数方法或改进理论与实证建模。
ABSTRACT Spatial econometrics has become a mainstay for regional scientists aiming to estimate geographic spillovers in regional outcomes. Yet, many remain skeptical, especially urban economists who prefer natural experimental approaches. Their concerns revolve around identification and a general lack of a theoretical foundation in the estimation of spatial econometric models. This theme issue includes three papers from leading regional scientists to appraise the status of spatial econometrics. The outcome is sweeping proposals from (1) abandoning standard spatial econometrics because it cannot identify causality, (2) using nonparametric approaches, and (3) implementing more nuanced changes revolving around better theoretical and empirical modeling.