Executive Summary

Lessons from the Past for Urban Policy in the Era of Trump

The stunning election of Donald Trump as president throws the future of urban policy into doubt. During the campaign he promised to bring new jobs and improved infrastructure to the inner cities, but so far he has furnished no details. Some of the strategies carried out by cities and states in the past may offer the incoming administration some guidance.

 

 

The Road Less Traveled: For Economic Developers who have the Courage to be Different

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As an economic developer you're not supposed to do it--pick winners, that is! Can't really be done, we're told--just like timing the stock market. This advice is a truism and like all truisms, it's true up to a point. No doubt it is correct that one cannot consistently pick winners and avoid losers.  There's one problem with this sage piece of advice, however--an economic developer is paid to pick winners. Picking winners is part of our job description. The problem is the way most economic developers pick winners these days creates a herd-like, un-thoughtful approach to community development. This is incredible in that we all use brilliant and thoughtful strategies and theoretical approaches. For the brave few, and especially those in smaller, less than metropolitan areas, the Curmudgeon advocates a path less traveled. This path relies on Profit Sector theory developed by Ann Markusen. So to better understand why most economic developers travel down the same tired and not particularly successful--but seemingly safe beaten path--and what could be a Churchill-like alternative to it, put The Road Less Traveled: For Economic Developers who have the Courage to be Different your reading list. Continue Reading...