This article examines the evolution and spatial variation in economic development policies adopted by nonmetropolitan district councils in England and Wales. Results from a recent survey reveal four distinct clusters of development strategies that range from activist to non-activist. Areas have tended to become more interventionist over time, with most district councils simply adding new programs to previous initiatives rather than starting over from scratch.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
Albrechts, L.
, F. Moulaert, P. Roberts, and E. Swyngedouw. 1989. Regional policy at the cross-roads. London: Jessica Kingsley.
2.
Armstrong, H. W.
, and J. Taylor. 1988. Regional policy and the North-South divide. London: Employment Institute.
3.
Armstrong, H. W.
, and J. Taylor. 1993. Regional economics and policy. 2d ed.Hemel Hempstead: Harvester Wheatsheaf.
4.
Association of District Councils
. 1987. Economic development initiatives and innovations. London: ADC, Best Practice Paper, December 1987.
5.
Association of District Councils
. 1990. Economic development initiatives and innovations. London: ADC, Best Practice Paper, Summer 1990.
6.
Audit Commission
. 1989. Urban regeneration and local economic development: The local government dimension. London: HMSO.
7.
Audit Commission
. 1991. Urban regeneration and economic development: The European dimension. Information Paper No. 5. London: Audit Commission.
8.
Bovaird, A.1992. Local economic development and the city. Urban Studies29: 343-368.
9.
Cappellin, R.1990. The European internal market and the internationalisation of small and medium-sized enterprises. Built Environment16: 69-84.
10.
Commission of the European Communities
. 1989. Guide to the reform of the Community's structural funds. Luxembourg: CEC.
11.
Commission of the European Communities
. 1993. The Community's structural fund operations, 1994-1999. COM(93) 67 final—SYN 445 of 10 March 1993. Brussels: CEC.
12.
Coulson, A.1990. Economic development: The metropolitan counties, 1974-86. Local Government Studies (May/June): 89-104.
Foley, P.1992. Local economic policy and job creation: A review of evaluation studies. Urban Studies29: 557-598.
15.
Giaoutzi, M.
, P. Nijkamp, and D. J. Storey. 1988. Small and medium-sized enterprises and regional development. London: Routledge.
16.
Hall, R.
, and D. van der Wee. 1992. Community regional policies for the 1990s. Regional Studies26: 399-404.
17.
Hayton, K.1991. The future for local authority economic development companies. Local Government Studies. (May/June): 53-67.
18.
Johnson, R. A.
, and D. W. Wichern. 1992. Applied multivariate statistical analysis. 3d ed.Englewood Cliffs, N.J.: Prentice-Hall.
19.
Keating, M.
, and B. Jones. 1994. Regions in the European Community. 2d ed.Oxford: Clarendon Press.
20.
Keeble, D.1990. New firms and regional economic development: Experience and impacts in the 1980s. Cambridge Regional Economic Review1: 62-71.
21.
Lever, W. F.1991. Local authority responses to economic change in West Central Scotland. Urban Studies29: 935-948.
22.
Levy, J. M.1992. The U.S. experience with local economic development. Environment and Planning C: Government and Policy10: 51-60.
23.
Local Government and Housing Act. 1989. Public General Acts—Elizabeth II, chapter 42. London: HMSO.
24.
Martin, R.1992. Reviving the economic case for regional policy. In Spatial policy in a divided nation, ed. M. Hart and R. Harrison. London: Jessica Kingsley.
25.
McCallum, J. D.1979. The development of British regional policy. In Regional policy: Past experience and new directions, ed. D. Maclennan and J. B. Parr. Oxford: Martin Robertson.
26.
Mills, L.
, and K. Young. 1986. Local authorities and economic development: The experience of the Labour local authorities. In Critical issues in urban economic development, ed. V. A. Hausner. Oxford: Clarendon Press.
27.
Randall, P.1973. The history of British regional policy. In Regional policy forever?, ed. C. Hallett, P. Randall, and E. C. West. London: Institute of Economic Affairs, Readings 11.
28.
Reese, L. A.1992. Explaining the extent of local economic development activity: Evidence from Canadian cities. Environment and Planning C: Government and Policy10: 105-120.
29.
Robinson, F.
, and C. Wren. 1987. Evaluating the impact and effectiveness of financial assistance policies in the Newcastle metropolitan region. Local Government Studies (May/June): 49-62.
30.
Sellgren, J.1987. Local economic development and local initiatives in the mid-1980s. Local Government Studies (November/December): 51-68.
31.
Sellgren, J.1990. Local economic development partnerships: An assessment of local authority economic development initiatives. Local Government Studies (July/August): 57-78.
32.
Sellgren, J.1991. The changing nature of economic development activities: A longitudinal analysis of local authorities in Great Britain, 1981 to 1987. Environment and Planning C: Government and Policy9: 341-362.
33.
Smallbone, D.1990. Enterprise agencies in London: A public-private sector partnership?Local Government Studies (September/October): 17-32.
34.
Sneath, P. H. A.
, and R. R. Sokal. 1973. Numerical taxonomy. San Francisco: Freeman.
35.
SPSS (Statistical Package for the Social Sciences)
. 1988. SPSS-X User's guide. 3d ed.Chicago: SPSS, Inc.
36.
Taylor, J.1991. Reviving the regions. London: Fabian Society Pamphlet, no. 551.
37.
White Paper
. 1988. The conduct of local authority business: The government's response to the report of the Widdicombe Committee of Inquiry. Command Paper 433. London: HMSO.
38.
Widdicombe Report
. 1986. The conduct of local authority business: Report of the Committee of Inquiry into the conduct of local authority business. Command Paper 9797. London: HMSO.
39.
Wishart, D.1987. Clustan user manual. 4th ed.St. Andrews, Scotland: University of St. Andrews.