Making a Place for Community: Local Democracy in a Global Era

by Imbroscio,David

• ISBN13: 9780415947411
• ISBN10: 0415947413
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Nonspecific Binding
• Copyright: 2003-09-18
• Publisher: Routledge

Summary

Making a Place for Communityargues that misguided politics at the local, state and national level have damaged local community life in the United States. Such policies not only undermine America's long-term economic health, they weaken the basis of local democracy. In the absence of a sustained policy commitment to stabilize the economic basis of healthy communities, isolated attempts to "revitalize" downtown or strengthen community values will remain hopelessly inadequate. Grounded in decades of research, this work offers brilliant solutions that defy conventional wisdom. Without busting the budget and halting development, the authors' smart new policies and grass-roots solutions, from land trusts to local ownership, show how to reign in sprawl and anchor jobs in the community.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments	vii
Foreword by Benjamin R. Barber	ix
Preface Toward the Reconstruction of American Community and Democracy	xiii
Introduction The Case for Community Economic Stability: Economics and Political Economics	1	(24)
PART I THE TRIPLE THREAT TO COMMUNITY AND DEMOCRACY
Introduction	25	(2)
Chapter 1 Globalization and Free Trade	27	(25)
Chapter 2 The Chase for Jobs	52	(19)
Chapter 3 The Challenge of Urban Sprawl	71	(32)
PART II PLACE-BASED POLICY ALTERNATIVES
Introduction	103	(2)
Chapter 4 Federal Job-Stabilizing Policies	105	(28)
Chapter 5 Conventional Policy Measures to Help Communities	133	(13)
Chapter 6 State and Municipal Enterprise	146	(19)
Chapter 7 Strengthening Local Multipliers	165	(24)
PART III PLACE-BASED ECONOMIC STRUCTURES
Introduction	189	(2)
Chapter 8 Supporting Employee Ownership in America	191	(22)
Chapter 9 Community Development Corporations and Community Development Financial Institutions	213	(23)
Chapter 10 Other Place-Based Ownership Models	236	(13)
Chapter 11 Community Land Trusts and Community Agriculture	249	(16)
PART IV THE GLOBAL CONTEXT
Introduction	265	(2)
Chapter 12 Restructuring Global Economic Institutions	267	(22)
Chapter 13 Alternative Approaches to Trade	289	(21)
Conclusion Political-Economic Policies for the Next Stage of Democratic Development	310	(13)
Appendix Resources for Rebuilding	323	(26)
Notes	349	(52)
Index	401