Suchergebnisse

Using criteria of efficiency, equity, and efficacy to assess enterprise zones reveals several shortcomings. The success of enterprise zones in revitalizing economically distressed areas depends on whether the causes of market failures are correctly identified, whether zone incentives are sufficient to trigger zone investment, and whether the investment and jobs produced in the zones are sufficient to offset additional service costs and lost tax revenues to participating governments. As presently formulated, however, the administration's enterprise zone proposal (March 1982) is insensitive to context-dependent local investment processes. This failure to strengthen the preconditions of neighborhood investment weakens the impact of zone incentives. The economic restructuring processes attendant to zone development raise concerns about equity and efficacy with regard to the promotion of capital-intensive development, displacement of existing businesses and organizations, assistance to small business enterprises, and articulation and representation of neighborhood interests.

Linear multiple regression analysis is applied to state-level data to compare the merits of two alternative explanations of why some states have a greater propensity than others to adopt state growth-management programs: the spread of necessity & the emulation of virtue. An index of state growth-management program adoptions is regressed on indicators of necessity -- sociospatial dislocations within the state -- & of virtue -- past policy orientations toward growth patterns & processes, & generalized innovativeness of the policy system. Results suggest that it is not just the magnitude & urgency of growth pressures which lead to innovative policies, but also the particular character of those pressures, & in particular, the deviation of contemporary sociospatial trends from traditional patterns. 3 Tables. Modified HA.