The local economic development processes in low-income countries: The case of the metropolis of Chegutu in Zimbabwe

Abstract

Local authorities are widely regarded as catalysts accelerating localised processes of economic development in industrialised countries but in low-income countries they are perceived as dysfunctional, inefficient and ineffective in meeting and addressing societal demands. This abstract view is however, not grounded in empirical research. As such, utilising the case of the metropolis of Chegutu a survey was designed to empirically explicate the economic processes militating its economic development. The findings are useful to policy-makers, local government authorities and management scholars. The study's unique contribution lies in its examination of the processes of local economic development in a low-income country.

Assessing the Quality of Local Government Training on Small Medium Enterprises(SMEs) in the Implementation of Local Economic Development initiatives (LED) in Ghana

“…LED can be defined as the localised process of economic development in which local governments collaborate with various stakeholders (Simba, Nyandroro, Munyoro & Chimhade, 2015; Pieterse, 2006) within a particular geographic region, generating economic development and ultimately improving the quality of life for all inhabitants of that region (Meyer 2014;Trousadale 2000). LED is an essential and valuable government strategy to promote socioeconomic developments within a locality (Simba et al, 2015). Thus, the focus of LED initiaves is on identifying economic processes for building economic capacity to shape local communities' economic development and quality of life.…”