Globalization’s Impact on State-Local Economic Development Policy: Introduction to the Symposium
Author(s)
Clark, Cal; Montjoy, Roberts S.
Abstract
The growing exposure of the U.S. economy to international competition, popularly termed globalization, over the past two decades has brought some momentous changes affecting the American economy, society, and life styles. Not surprisingly, these changes have been reflected in growing political turbulence and shifts in policy paradigms as well. This symposium explores the effects that globalization has had on economic development policy and practice in the United States. Part I charts and seeks to explain “The Expanding Global Linkages” of state and local governments over the last several decades. Part II on the “Potential for Transformation” then argues that the economic transformations set off by globalization are pushing state and local development policy toward a fundamental change and entrepreneurial strategies that should overcome some of the problems associated with the previous strategy that has been dubbed “smokestack chasing.” Yet, caution is certainly necessary before accepting such optimistic interpretations. Part III, therefore, presents several analyses suggesting that smokestack chasing “struck back” and that blind reliance on free markets and entrepreneurship can be dangerous to a community’s social and economic health, thereby indicting the existence of “Pitfalls in a Changing Universe.”
