Governance, Policy Innovation, and Local Economic Development in North Carolina

Abstract

This article examines the extent to which local governments in North Carolina embrace innovation in their economic development activities. The study makes a distinctive theoretical contribution by examining the relationship between innovation in how economic development policies are administered and implemented (using concepts associated with governance and NPM), and innovation in what is substantively done (policy innovation). An analysis of the results from a statewide survey of local governments in North Carolina finds that certain governance/management variables are significant determinants of economic development policy innovation. An implication of this finding is that new ways of doing economic development may go hand‐in‐hand with new ways of governing and managing. Many of the governance/management variables are also positively associated with the use of a greater number of traditional economic development strategies and tools. This suggests that local governments may find it helpful to be innovative in how they implement economic development irrespective of the substantive policy orientation of particular strategies and tools.

Political Pressure, Conformity Pressure, and Performance Information as Drivers of Public Sector Innovation Adoption

“…This could also bring the public sector innovation literature into a much stronger dialogue with the study of performance management (Moynihan 2008), which is strongly interested in the way public organizations respond to information about the behaviors and results of other organizations. The review is based on the following studies: (Bhatti, Olsen, and Pedersen 2011;Bingham 1978;Boyne et al 2005;Brudney and Selden 1995;Damanpour 1987;Schneider 2006, 2009;Damanpour, Walker, and Avellaneda 2009;Fernandez and Wise 2010;Hansen 2011;Jun and Weare 2011;Kwon, Berry, and Feiock 2009;Morgan 2010;Perry and Kraemer 1978;Teodoro 2010;Walker 2006;Walker 2008).…”

Consumer participation in the health tourism innovation process

“…On the other hand, significant changes can be seen in medicine. A wide offer of high-quality medical services is a response to the globalisation of health services (Lunt & Carrera, 2010;Morgan, 2010). Moreover, the causes of travels for health purposes are considered to include the availability of cheaper, alternative procedures conducted outside of the country of residence (Hazarika, 2010), and the unavailability of services in the country of residence, caused, among others, by procedural barriers to availability and long waiting lists (Burkett, 2007), (in particular, medical services).…”

City web sites: Do they promote economic development, or branding, or anything at all?

“…One manifestation of the non-traditional approach is an emphasis on redistributive policy exemplified by "linkage" fees assessed on developers to fund social projects such as low income housing as used in cities such as Boston, San Francisco and Seattle [1,5]. Another is an emphasis on quality of life amenities, often in the form of arts, culture and entertainment to retain and attract particular groups of people as well as business, as noted by numerous scholars [16,24,33,35].…”