The article "Futures should matter (more): Toward a forward-looking perspective in economic geography" explores the importance of engaging with the future in economic geography research. It argues that while the future is increasingly relevant for regional economic development, the discipline has not adequately addressed this topic. The authors propose a critical realist framework to develop a forward-looking perspective, emphasizing the need for scholars to engage with the future in meaningful ways. They highlight the limitations of traditional approaches that focus solely on the past and present, particularly in the context of uncertain and indeterminate futures. The article discusses the importance of understanding regional futures, the challenges of studying the future, and the need for a theoretical foundation that can guide future-oriented research. It also outlines key dimensions such as philosophy of science, ontology, epistemology, and methodology, and suggests promising avenues for researching regional futures in economic geography. The authors advocate for a paradigm shift that includes a reconsideration of the normative underpinnings of the discipline, emphasizing the importance of imagining and creating more sustainable and equitable futures.The article "Futures should matter (more): Toward a forward-looking perspective in economic geography" explores the importance of engaging with the future in economic geography research. It argues that while the future is increasingly relevant for regional economic development, the discipline has not adequately addressed this topic. The authors propose a critical realist framework to develop a forward-looking perspective, emphasizing the need for scholars to engage with the future in meaningful ways. They highlight the limitations of traditional approaches that focus solely on the past and present, particularly in the context of uncertain and indeterminate futures. The article discusses the importance of understanding regional futures, the challenges of studying the future, and the need for a theoretical foundation that can guide future-oriented research. It also outlines key dimensions such as philosophy of science, ontology, epistemology, and methodology, and suggests promising avenues for researching regional futures in economic geography. The authors advocate for a paradigm shift that includes a reconsideration of the normative underpinnings of the discipline, emphasizing the importance of imagining and creating more sustainable and equitable futures.