Brookings: Time to Rethink Economic Development

A new policy paper argues that real economic development reaches all levels of the economy—not just the top.

1 minute read

March 10, 2016, 1:00 PM PST

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


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Jianghaistudio / Shutterstock

Amy Liu lays out the challenge for leaders in cities and regions to "remake" economic development, citing the lesson delivered by the lackluster U.S. economy: "Top-line growth doesn’t ensure bottom-line prosperity." 

Along those lines, Liu has created a paper for the Brookings Institution titled "Remaking Economic Development: The Markets and Civics of Continuous Growth and Prosperity." Liu provides an abstract of sorts for the paper on the Brookings Institution website, where she lays out five action principles that put the ideas in the paper into practice:

  1. Set the right goals
  2. Grow from within
  3. Boost trade
  4. Invest in people and skills
  5. Connect place

Liu's work caught the attention of Joe Cortright, who provides a lengthy (but concise) summary of the new paper.

Monday, February 29, 2016 in Brookings Institution

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I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

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