Competition for Economic Development among Southeastern Cities

Abstract

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.