Donald Haider

Economic Development: Changing Practices in a Changing US Economy

In this paper, economic development is viewed in the context of a rapidly changing US economy. It is argued that economic development is no longer a policy or functional reserve of the national government, nor even an activity exclusively public. All sectors and governmental levels are currently engaged in its practice. Economic development, in effect, has become everyones business although obvious inadequacies exist in defining what it is, let alone results. The paper provides an historical overview of national involvement in economic development and covers the recent debates over the federal governments appropriate role in fostering development. The remainder of the article traces the evolving and dynamic functioning of US States in the development arena, and the strategies and actions they are taking for strengthening their individual economic foundations. Yet, it is concluded that promising and creative as these ventures may be, it is unclear how much of a measurable impact they have had set against broader economic forces and trends. What is more clear, however, is that US States have emerged at the center of public, private, and intergovernmental activities aimed at responding to changes in the US economy.

A Rank Order of Eateries: A Chicago Stochastic Model

.... The hands of men took hold and tugged And the breaths of men went into the junk And the junk stood up into skyscrapers and asked Who am I? Am I a city? Carl Sandburg-“The Windy City” Robert Merriam, picking up where his father left off, once indicated that it would take 50 years for an aroused citizenry to root out corruption in Chicago. It has taken at least that long to upgrade Chicagos restaurants. Several decades ago, top gourmet societies labelled Chicago a “gastronomic wasteland.” Among the many old cliches and modern prejudices that the Windy City is constantly seeking to outlive is the quality of its restaurants. New Yorkers, of course, will not let old myths die. Gail Green, New York Magazine galloping gourmet, recently went away from Chicago dubbing its restaurants the “Big Potato” — homely and solid, mealy and bland. Chicago epicureans responded by a whirlwind tour of the Gotham Towns “Best and Most Delectable,” writing devastating critiques of New Yorks much overrated eating places. If one can transcend these diatribes and gastronomic polemics, you will find Chicago to be as good a dining town as there is in the U.S.A. — variety, service, and prices.