Dέjà-vu all over Again: Porter's Model of Inner-City Redevelopment

Abstract

Dr. Michael Porter has advanced a model for the redevelopment of the inner city that relies heavily on private sector and natural market forces, diminishing the role of government in social programs. Since Porter’s assertions are apparently being taken seriously by some American civic and business leaders who may make substantial investments of time and other resources into some manifestations of his theory, we think it important to provide coherent criticism of its failings. Upon close examination, little he recommends is new or stands the scrutiny of thirty or more years of research and practice in inner-city economic redevelopment. Here, we first place Porter’s ideas in historical context, then discuss six major assertions from his writings. In our opinion, Porter contributes to another misformulation of the problem of revitalizing ghetto economies, and therefore provides a sure loser of a solution. His theory, should the corporate world accept it and give it a real test, is tailor-made for another lesson, true or not, on how the ghetto cannot be redeveloped.