{"product_id":"economic-development-and-governance-in-small-town-america","title":"Economic Development and Governance in Small Town America","description":"\u003cp\u003eWho governs? And why? How do they govern? These remain vital questions in the politics of our small cities and towns. In this new book, author Daniel Bliss takes issue with those who believe that small towns and cities are fatally vulnerable to the pressures of a global economy. Based on in-depth analyses of small town America, this book demonstrates how political agency can address and solve real problems affecting US towns, including capital flight, industrial closures, and job losses. Bliss illustrates how small localities exercise choices – such as nurturing local businesses and developing infrastructure rather than engaging in a \"race to the bottom,\" heavily mortgaging tax revenues to attract large box retailers and small box call centers while passively watching more productive firms and better-paying jobs slip away. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eTaking careful account of comparative literature as well as variations in city governments, their planning agencies, and their relations with state authorities, this book explores the ways in which local politicians and public planning bodies can mobilize local constituencies to weather global challenges and common structural problems such as unfavorable demographics, skill shortages and out-migration. \u003ci\u003eEconomic Development and Governance in Small Town America\u003c\/i\u003e holds out the promise of meaningful democratic change even in unfavorable political and economic circumstances.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Taylor \u0026 Francis Inc","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54237836575064,"sku":"9780815393719","price":192.2,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0278\/1295\/4195\/files\/9780815393719_ba2c1075-3e43-4713-8ef5-1e666e939c74.jpg?v=1777536916","url":"https:\/\/agendabookshop.com\/products\/economic-development-and-governance-in-small-town-america","provider":"Agenda Bookshop","version":"1.0","type":"link"}