Host County Research Articles

Questioning conventional wisdom: the regional economic impacts of Major US nuclear weapons sites, 1970–1994

The US government built a massive nuclear weapons complex during the 1940 s and 1950 s. The conventional wisdom is that these facilities are sources of jobs and income for the surrounding regions. Recent research challenges the conventional wisdom, finding that areas with the weapons facilities have higher unemployment rates, attract less than their share of private sector investment, and suffer from the stigma of environmental contamination. We find evidence that supports both contentions and shows that geography and the built environment, including public infrastructure, are often key determinants of the economic impact on surrounding areas. Using a control group method, we studied 22 counties located within 10 miles of the five most prominent nuclear weapons sites. Focusing on the most recent quarter century, we identified large increases in employment, population, and income beginning in the mid-1970 s in the counties hosting the largest facilities. Most of the counties adjacent to the host counties also manifested economic impacts larger than their control counties, but some did not. The lagging counties tended to be physically isolated and lacking in public services and other attributes that tend to attract residential and commercial development.

Casino Gambling as an Economic Development Strategy

Casino gambling has experienced dramatic growth in the USA during the past seven years. Because this growth has occurred recently, there have been few systematic studies of its effects. This paper uses quasi-experimental control group methods to study 68 counties where casinos were opened during the period 1989–93 and three multicasino counties. Results show that casino gambling is adopted by economically struggling counties and that it can be a successful development strategy. The effects trickle down to other sectors of the economy, including recipients of income maintenance payments. On the downside, local governments and local workers do not appear to reap the lion's share of benefits, as much of the income generated by casinos is dissipated through leakages outside the host county. Finally, some casino types and locations are marginally better than others, but currently these factors are not prominent determinants of casino effects.

In Whose Backyard?: Concern About Siting a Nuclear Waste Facility*

Proponents of hazardous and nuclear waste depositories label opponents to local siting of such facilities “NIMBYs” (Not In My Backyard). This study assesses the extent to which the NIMBY label and the strategies of industry proponents to reduce opposition function on a reasonable set of assumptions. Using survey data and multiple regression techniques, the levels of concern of residents living in the county selected as the site of a low level radioactive waste disposal facility (imminent threat condition) are compared with a statewide sample (hypothetical threat condition). Consistent with proponents' theoretical assumptions, the levels of concern are greater for respondents under conditions of imminent threat than of hypothetical threat. However, within the host county, levels of concern are lowest, albeit most polarized, in the community closest to the proposed site. A conflict theory approach enhances an understanding of these findings by suggesting that within the most proximate community levels of concern are lowest for citizens who stand to gain the most economic benefits from the facility but highest for those citizens who are least likely to derive tangible gains.

Policy for international talent utilization

We are facing an internationally uneven dzdrzbutzon of excess and shortage of engineers, professionals and rnultzculturally experzenced managers, resulting zn acute problems for head-hunting, in-house trumzng and staff retentzon. Excellent trained engineers may deteriorate in outmoded jactories in some countries. Matching between corporate culture and host county culture is crucial. Cross-national career advancement is increasingly practised with or without awareness of cultural differences. This article gives actual examples of problems and solutions in major firms.

The local agricultural scene

The MAFF South East Region in which the 1984 Society of Dairy Technology annual conference was held is first described very briefly. The host county of Kent is then described in greater detail. The urban influence, the geological and climatic attributes and the farming and horticulture of the county are all discussed. Mention is made of crop and livestock trends and levels and the effect of cooperation and marketing developments.

Bladder cancer in pet dogs: a sentinel for environmental cancer?

Proportional morbidity ratios (PMRs) were calculated for cancers, by site or type, in 8760 pet dogs seen at 13 veterinary medical teaching hospitals in the United States and Canada. A significant positive correlation was seen between the PMRs for canine bladder cancer and the overall level of industrial activity in the host county of the hospital. An analysis of mortality from bladder cancer among white men and women in the same US counties showed similar correlations with industrial activity. Canine bladder cancer could be a sentinel condition whose investigation in locales might lead to early identification of carcinogenic hazards in the general environment.