These articles are refined from research papers prepared during the first two and a half years of my PhD program (2016-2018). The topics are drawn from my extensive career as a practitioner in local economic and community development, and reflect my concerns over the effectiveness of programs I promoted and administered. In general terms, I’m concerned that, in retrospect, I did not sufficiently weigh the interests of local business owners and residents in delineating program policies for local officials. My dissertation topic (local taxes and wages in tourism) builds on these exploratory studies and reflections, and will chart one tributary to a  larger stream of future research; defining, measuring and articulating local choices which can advance the economic security of residents/employees and local businesses owners.

General Local Economic Development Topics

The history of nationalizing local economies (December)

The Council of Economic Advisers and the end of employment policy (2019)

Shoot anything that flies, claim anything that falls (November)

Why do we ignore economic sustainability in the United States? (October)

Promoting economic citizenship in local communities (October)

Community Wealth Shapes Local Economic Development Programs (1/2)

Disrupting corporate influence on a local economy (December)

Local Economic Development Metrics

A Survey of Local Economic Metrics in Virginia

Reporting Accuracy in Local Economic Development Programs (2/2)

Rethinking Metrics for Local Economic Development

Predictors of accurate reporting in local economic development programs (under peer review)

Measuring corporate influence over local economies (December)

Tourism & Local Economic Development

Making the case for a Just Host

Tourism for taxes or good jobs?

Comparing living wage deficits and hotel tax profits in 34 major markets (October)

The Just Host: Tapping hotel taxes and private equity in counter-cyclical markets to raise wages in the hospitality sector (November)

Rural Local Economic Development

How environmental impact assessments hurt rural communities (November)

Local Economic Development Links

Iowa Data Sources:

Statistical data for Iowa Counties and Cities is available through the Iowa Government Finance Initiative administered by Iowa State University (ISU).  This basic descriptive data is consolidated from surveys conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau readily available though websites like the American FactFinder and is accompanied with generic commentary by ISU regarding financial management.