Assessing state-of-the-art urban economic development, this book addresses such pertinent issues as the importance of `quality of life' in location decisions, and whether industry targetting is a viable economic development strategy. Each chapter is followed by commentaries - one written by an academic addressing research methodology, the other by a practitioner addressing both the question and the evidence. Each chapter's author then responds to the issues raised by the commentators. The result is a productive dialogue between academics, practitioners and citizens concerned with economic development.

Is Local Economic Development a Zero-Sum Game? - John P Blair and Rishi Kumar
A Comment on Incentives - Bronwen J Turner
One Applied Researcher¿s Reaction to the Zero-Sum Question - Ron Shaffer
The Zero-Sum Game Controversy - John P Blair and Rishi Kumar
A Reply
How Do We Know That `But for the Incentives¿ the Development Would Not Have Occurred? - Joseph Persky, Daniel Felsenstein and Wim Wiewel
Commentary on the Question of Incentives - Valerie B Jarrett
Commentary on the Question of Incentives - Nancy Green Leigh
Response on Incentives - Joseph Persky, Daniel Felsenstein and Wim Wiewel
How Important Is `Quality of Life¿ in Location Decisions and Local Economic Development? - James A Segedy
Commentary on the Significance of `Quality of Life¿ - Signe M Rich
Commentary on `Quality of Life¿ in Location Decisions - Brian J Cushing
Response to Commentaries - James A Segedy
Is There Really an Infrastructure/Economic Development Link? - David Arsen
A Comment on Infrastructure and Economic Development - Steven C Deller
Reply to Steven C Deller - David Arsen
What is the Role of Public Universities in Regional Economic Development? - Michael I Luger and Harvey A Goldstein
Commentary on the Role of Public Universities - Donald F Smith Jr and Robert E Gleeson
Response to the Commentary - Michael I Luger and Harvey A Goldstein
Taxes and Economic Development in the American States - Paul Brace
Persistent Issues and Notes for a Model
Commentary on Taxes and Economic Development - Judith Kossy
Commentary on Taxes and Economic Development - Brett W Hawkins
Reply to Judith Kossy and Brett W Hawkins - Paul Brace
Is Industry Targeting a Viable Economic Development Strategy? - Ken Voytek and Larry Ledebur
Commentary on Industry Targeting - Donald T Iannone
Commentary on Industry Targeting - Sabina E Deitrick
Response to Donald T Iannone and Sabina E Deitrick - Ken Voytek and Larry Ledebur
Can City Hall Create Private Jobs? - Leon Taylor
Commentary on `Can City Hall Create Private Jobs?¿ - William M Bowen
Reply To William M Bowen - Leon Taylor
Do Leadership Structures Matter in Local Economic Development? - Laura A Reese
Leadership and Economic Development Policy - Robert A Beauregard
A Commentary
Response to Commentary - Laura A Reese
Can Economic Development Programs Be Evaluated? - Timothy J Bartik and Richard D Bingham
Commentary on `Can Economic Development Programs Be Evaluated?¿ - Robert Giloth
Commentary - David Fasenfest
Evaluation Yes, But on Whose Behalf?
Rejoinder - Timothy J Bartik and Richard D Bingham
Is There a Point in the Cycle of Cities Where Economic Development is No Longer a Viable Strategy? Or When Is the Neighborhood Too Far Gone? - William W Goldsmith
Commentary on the Cycle of Cities - Peter B Meyer
Commentary on the Cycle of Cities - Carol Waldrop
Reply to Peter B Meyer and Carol Waldrop - William W Goldsmith