Explaining the Extent of Local Economic Development Activity: Evidence from Canadian Cities

Abstract

This paper is an attempt to explain economic development policies in Canadian cities by examining local fiscal health, intercity competition for development, the extent of professionalism in the economic development arena, and local governmental structure. Although these factors have been found to affect local economic development practices in the United States, the data presented here indicate that this is not the case in Canada. Only the amount of planning in economic development, the extent of citizen input, the presence of ward-based elections, and the extent to which decisions are left to professionals appear to influence economic development techniques practised in a city.