Chicago's Industry Task Forces: Joint Problem Solving for Local Economic Development

Abstract

Local industrial policy holds much promise for improving industry conditions and investment. Chicago has experimented since 1984 with steel and apparel task forces as ways to foster industry cooperation and problem solving while avoiding many of the pitfall and extragovernmental policymaking. These taskforces are distinctive in the diversity of their membership, their use of research, and the public sector's facilitating role. Recommended initiatives range from enhancing steel technology transfer in the Chicago region to establishing an Apparel Industry Board. While it is too early to evaluate the overall impacts of these task forces, they have fostered joint problem solving and have taken a number of concrete actions. On the limitation side, the task forces chose to ignore several popular issues and strategies, raised expectations about local government, and absorbed substantial city resources. Chicago's industry task forces point to the catalytic role local government can play in industrial policy innovation.