Comparing State Enterprise Zone Programs: Variations in Structure and Coverage

Abstract

This article develops a framework to classify and compare state administered enterprise zone programs based on survey data from state program administrators. Three themes are described as having led to the design and implementation of individual state programs: economic theory, political theory, and programmatic experience. From these themes, seven key dimensions are identify ed, within which state programs can be expected to vary. The analysis measures the variation among states' programs within these dimensions and assesses the usefulness of the framework developed here as a guide to comprehensive evaluation of individual and comparative program performance.