The Revitalization of Older Industrial Cities: A Review Essay of Retooling for Growth

Abstract

of the Urban Problems and Solutions Identified in the BookWhat is the economic problem in older industrial cities?I think this is well known, and it is reviewed in the chapters by McGahey (chapter 1), Vey (chapter 2), Wolman, Hill, Blumenthal, and Furdell (chapter 6), Luria and Rogers (chapter 9), and Finkle, Garmise, and Nourick (chapter 11).These cities have lost their former economic base of traditional manufacturing to some combination of suburbs, other U.S. regions, and other countries (the last of which is particularly emphasized by Luria and Rogers).This leaves behind vacant industrial land, which frequently suffers from actual or perceived environmental problems (an issue particularly emphasized by Finkle, Garmise, and Nourick in chapter 11).The loss of jobs also leaves behind increased unemployment and underemployment and persistent poverty with its attendant social problems (these issues are particularly emphasized by Pastor and Benner [chapter 4], Wolman et al. [chapter 6], Turner, Davis, and Cruz [chapter 8], Kazis and Seltzer [chapter 12], and Blackwell and Fox [chapter 13]).What solutions do the book's chapters offer to the economic problem in older industrial cities?In this section, I summarize each chapter's main themes.I also provide some background on the authors, which helps identify their expertise and perspective.Chapter 1, by Richard McGahey of the Ford Foundation, critiques economic development incentives and suggests reforms, discusses industrial clusters, and discusses regional workforce development and regional cooperation.Chapter 2, by Jennifer Vey of the Brookings Institution, discusses state government policies toward older industrial cities.Her chapter mentions many diverse policy interventions: school funding reform, crime reduction policies, revenue sharing, downtown investments, investing in industrial clusters, improving transit, workforce development, and housing programs.Chapter 3, by Randall Kempner of the Council on Competitiveness (an organization involving corporate CEOs, university presidents, and labor leaders concerned with U.S. economic competitiveness) discusses how cities might improve their pools of individuals with "talent" or job skills.

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