JOURNAL ARTICLE

Market Differentiation and the Adoption of Economic Development Strategies: Explaining Policy Adoption in Metropolitan Areas

Title:
Market Differentiation and the Adoption of Economic Development Strategies: Explaining Policy Adoption in Metropolitan Areas
Authors:
Overton, Michael
Year:
2018
Output Type:
Journal Article
Venue:
The Review of Regional Studies
Venue Type:
Peer-reviewed journal
Status:
Published
Theme:
Municipal Finance and Budgeting
Sub-theme:
Municipal Competition
Shared Trajectory:
Market Differentiation and Municipal Competition
Abstract:
Local government competition for private business investment is a central concern in polycentric governance. Previous research argues that competition for business investment is intense and ubiquitous across local governments (Peterson, 1981; Rubin, 1988). However, local government managers adopt policy and economic development strategies in the context of the strategies adopted by neighboring local governments. Do cities, knowing the economic development strategies of their neighboring cities, pursue similar types of businesses? Or do they strategically target different types of businesses to avoid the negative consequences of competition? Hypotheses are tested by applying product differentiation theory to policy adoption in metropolitan areas using spatial regression analysis on a sample of 2,299 cities. Results indicate that cities pursue similar development strategies as neighboring cities, but will implement increasingly differentiated strategies as population heterogeneity and political and bureaucratic incentives increase. Furthermore, this study finds that a city’s reliance on the sales tax and the costs of competing for business location impact the type of development strategy used by a city.
Topics:
Economic development strategy Policy adoption Metropolitan areas
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.52324/001c.7990
Citations (OpenAlex):
5
Open Access Copy:
https://rrs.scholasticahq.com/article/7990.pdf
OpenAlex ID:
W2936195288
Full Citation:
Overton, Michael. (2018). "Market Differentiation and the Adoption of Economic Development Strategies: Explaining Policy Adoption in Metropolitan Areas." The Review of Regional Studies, 48 (3), 299-322. https://doi.org/10.52324/001c.7990
Cite this work Published

Reference

Overton, Michael (2018). Market Differentiation and the Adoption of Economic Development Strategies: Explaining Policy Adoption in Metropolitan Areas. The Review of Regional Studies.

View published version

@article{overton2018_market_differentiation_a,
  title   = {Market Differentiation and the Adoption of Economic Development Strategies: Explaining Policy Adoption in Metropolitan Areas},
  author  = { Overton, Michael },
  year    = {2018},
  journal = {The Review of Regional Studies},
  doi     = {10.52324/001c.7990},
  url     = {https://www.michaeloverton.net/research/items/market_differentiation_and_the_adoption_of_economic_developm.html}
}