From the Bottom Up: The Community Economic-Development Approach

Maurice J. Scarlett is a geography professor at the Memorial University
of Newfoundland.

The concept of local development as a tool for economic development in
stagnating communities is still experimental. This slender volume, from
the Economic Council of Canada, addresses the question of local
development as a tool of economic development in stagnating communities.
Its authors base their conclusions on an examination of “The Canadian
Experience,” their study of nine locally based economic development
initiatives and other evidence. The core of their ideas are three
supply-side initiatives (utilizing idle resources, expanding the
resource base, and increasing the productivity of local factors) and two
demand-side initiatives (responding to market opportunities, and the use
of community-based business organizations). They conclude with brief
comments on policy directions.

The project leader was Tim O’Neill, President of the Atlantic
Provinces Economic Council. His team included three researchers from the
ECC and a director of background case studies drawn from the consulting
firm of E.T. Jackson & Associates.

Much, if not all, of what this volume contains appears obvious, even
platitudinous, and it would be tempting to dismiss it as reinventing the
wheel if it were not all too evident that hitherto the perspective of
most Ottawa thinking has been far from appreciative of local
initiatives, despite the labels on some central government handout
schemes like LIP’s. Maybe they, if not the rest of us, need to be told
the obvious.