This book provides a comprehensive look at local economic development and public policy with special emphasis on quality of life and sustainability. It draws extensively on case studies at state and local levels, and includes both mainstream and alternative perspectives in dealing with economic growth and development issues. The volume clarifies the contributions of economic theories and empirical research to the policy debates, and the relationship of both to quality of life and sustainability. It considers the impact of state and local tax systems on the level and structure of economic growth and development; and the relationship between economic growth and development and state revenues, expenditures, and regulatory policies. The book also explores the relationship between income inequality, poverty, and economic opportunity; as well as strategies to incorporate quality of life indices and sustainable development issues in the policy debates. "Thoughtful new insights about what is needed to reshape economic development for 21st century priorities and challenges." -- Richard Lamm, University of Denver and former governor of Colorado. "A very readable book for non-economists...it makes a compelling case for the natural compatibility of quality of life factors and sustainable economic development. It illustrates not only why traditional business incentives are not cost-effective but also suggests what to do in place of them. In particular, the authors call for entrepreneurship and education while emphasizing the tight interconnections among economy, environment, and society. In Littleton, Colorado, we have practiced these same principles for over two decades with our Economic Gardening Program and have had considerable success at economic development without significant population growth. This is the future of economic development." -- Chris Gibbons, Director of Business/Industry Affairs, Littleton, Colorado. " Local Economic Development in the 21st Century is a well-written and extremely useful and insightful book on the pros and cons of local economic development. It raises important issues on the relationship between traditional economic growth on the one hand and the quality of life and sustainable development on the other hand. Though the policy implications are about the best way of 'acting locally,' the book has important implications for policy makers and public officials on the national level as well." -- Edward Wolff, New York University.
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