This research explores the nature of local economic development decision making. A central theoretical issue common to all types of urban research is the extent of independence and rationality that public decision makers exhibit during the policymaking process. The author argues that local political decisions do matter in the economic development arena; in other words, cities are not totally constrained by external forces but make certain bounded choices. However, the data indicate that economic development policies are not likely to be the result of rational, systematic weighing of costs and benefits. Rather, economic development policy largely is driven by professional decision rules emanating from economic development professionals.
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