Implementing Economic Development in Middle America: An Analysis of Political,Administrative,and Organizational Constraints

Abstract

Economic development was the synonym for urban policy in the 1980s. No longer an exclusive policy concern for older, larger cities located in the economically ravaged areas suffering from capital flight, now urban economic development is the preoccupation of city governments regardless of size or region. Although this policy terrain has received scholarly attention, most of this effort has been focused on large cities located in the industrial midwest and the densely populated coastal zones. In this research, the authors examine the administrative, political, and organizational constraints of one midsize city in rural middle America. They demonstrate that although economic development goals and basic problems may be similar among cities, strategies must be tailored to size and regional differences. They offer organizational recommendations and topics for future research that may provide small and midsize cities with more feasible approaches to economic development.