Competition for Economic Development among Southeastern Cities

Economic development, in its most general sense, is a process through which a community's material and social well-being is increased. For American cities, the interaction of federalism and capitalism makes the pursuit of economic development a competitive process. This study assesses the nature and extent of interjurisdictional competition for economic development by surveying 84 public- and private-sector actors in 31 Southeastern cities. The findings indicate that the competition ethos is pervasive, with cities establishing aggressive economic development programs to compete with larger, economically diverse jurisdictions.

Competition for Economic Development among Southeastern Cities Academic Article