Local Government Role in Economic Development

1. The traditional local government role in economic development is to facilitate economic activity by off-setting the cost of doing business in your community (in terms of time, opportunity, and money). Strategies include land assembly, modifying the permitting process, and providing job training. More entrepreneurial roles, as well as strategies that more directly address the demand for local products may include seeding and investing in local small businesses, matching gaps in supplier/buyer linkages, and international trade promotion. Local elected officials can work with city staff, business, and other stakeholders in the community to educate themselves about the types of programs and tools that are available to them and to decide which economic development role is best for their city.

2. However, it is important to remember that economic development activities that work in one place will not necessarily work in another. Following economic development fads or strictly replicating another city's approach without putting it in the context of your community is a recipe for failure. Instead, elected officials can learn how and why another city was successful and adapt those practices to local realities.

3. Elected officials should also work with their staff to determine a set of expected outcomes, the necessary level of resources (staff and budget) needed to achieve these outcomes, and performance metrics to evaluate and measure them. In the context of short-term political cycles, it may be tempting to stray from the strategy and only consider economic development in terms of traditional, more tangible successes, such as attracting a new, large employer. Strategic implementation of economic development, from selecting activities that support the vision to accurately measuring progress, enables local governments to be more responsive in an increasingly complex and uncertain economic environment. It allows the community, staff, and elected officials to be part of a "continuum" of leadership and to make more deliberate progress toward long-term economic success.

II. Decide whether the following statements are a) true, b) false or c) information is not available in the text:

1) The question of municipal autonomy is a key question of public administration and governance.

2) Elected officials can learn how and why another city was successful and adapt those practices to local realities.

3) Strategic implementation of economic development doesn’t permit local

governments to be more responsive in a complex and uncertain economic environment.

 

 

III. Match the words (1-10) with their definitions (a-j):

1. facilitate 2. local government 3. entrepreneurial 4. fad 5. deliberate 6. environment 7. tangible 8. seed 9. implementation 10. responsive

a) to make it possible or easier for something to happen   b)is a form of public administration which exists as the lowest tier of administration within a given state   c) willing to work hard and take risks in order to build up a business   d) intended, not done by chance or by accident   e) something that is popular or fashionable for only a short time   f) the conditions and influences in which people carry on a particular activity   g) a small hard part produced by a plant that can grow into a new plant of the same type   h) realization of an application, or execution of a plan, idea, model, design, specification, standard, algorithm, or policy   i) important and noticeable   j) quick to react in the way that is needed, suitable, or right for a particular situation

 

 

 

 

IV. Complete the sentences (1- 10) with the words (a-l). There are two extra words:

a. enterprise

b. activity

c. wary

d. economic-development

e. success

f.prescribed

g. affected

h. seek

i. protect

j. undertakes

k. entrepreneurs

l. shares

1. Local banks and credit union are often........... of loaning money to any local businesses without full collateral.

2. There are thousands of local-investment pools around the country, most of them linked with local........... programs.

3. By buying.......... and becoming part-owners of a business, local people can become supporters, volunteers and advocates for the business.

4. If an......... is working for the good of your local area, investment from local people can be invaluable.

5. Entrepreneurs serve as the spark plug in the economy's engine, activating and stimulating all economic...........

6. The economic.......... of nations worldwide is the result of encouraging and rewarding the entrepreneurial instinct.

7. The most dynamic societies in the world are the ones that have the most entrepreneurs, plus the economic and legal structure to encourage and motivate........... to greater activities.

8. It is the entrepreneur who........... the risk of the enterprise in search of profit and who seeks opportunities to profit by satisfying as yet unsatisfied needs.

9. Franchising is the practice of the right to use a firm's business model and brand for a........... period of time.

10. It is an employer's duty to.......... the health, safety and welfare of their employees and other people who might be affected by their business.

 

 

V. Match (1-10) with (a-j) to make up sentences:

 

1. Community shares are a way for 2. Community shares can be used 3. Entrepreneurs occupy a central position 4. A society is prosperous only to the degree to which it rewards and encourages 5. Some economists view entrepreneurship as a small part of 6. The franchisee is said to have a greater incentive 7. Under the law employers are responsible 8. Employers must consult employees 9. The rise in self-employment is likely 10. The managers were shadowed

a) in a market economy.   b) community groups to raise money.   c) to support many different types of business, like saving a local pub or setting up a renewable energy project. d) economic activity.   e) entrepreneurial activity.   f) by trainees in the bank’s development programme.   g) than a direct employee because they have a direct stake in the business. h) on health and safety issues.   i) for health and safety management.   j) to increase the flexibility of earnings.

 

 

VI. Complete the sentences (1-10) with a) a, b) an, c) the or d) no article:

 

1. All goods arriving at the warehouse are automatically checked by..... computer system.

2. Your success is vital to the success of..... nation.

3. Entrepreneurs are flexible and willing to change quickly when they get..... new information.

4. The construction company has contracted to build..... new airport terminal.

5. The agreement was signed during..... official visit to France by Prime Minister.

VII. Put the words (1-5) in the correct order to make up sentences:

1.are, plans, split, the, into, a, of, company, smaller, companies, There, to, independent, number.

 

………………………………………………………………………………

2. cost-push, is, strongest, the, economy, has, expanding, for, a, time, Usually, inflation, when, been, long.

 

……………………………………………………………………………….

3.earnings, has, a, modest, average, decline, in, hourly, of, workers There, been.

 

………………………………………………………………………………..

4. hyperinflation, aim, of, The, the, budget, was, strict, to, prevent.

 

…………………………………………………………………………………

5. fares, tend, certain, be, competition, higher, at, airports, to, where, factors, inhibit, among, airlines, Air.

 

…………………………………………………………………………………..

 

VIII. Listen to the text Good Time to Enter Job Market for New College Graduates using http://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/good-job-market-for-new-graduates/3482135.html and answer the following questions: