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Florida State University
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Course DescriptionCourse ObjectivesCourse GradingContact
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This course introduces students to the theories and practices underlying the field of economic development. Economic development is a field that has grown in importance in recent years as the post-modern economy in the United States has evolved away from traditional manufacturing jobs towards service-oriented industries. This restructuring has heightened the competition between cities for economic growth and new development, leading to a new wave of strategies and programs to develop new industries or attract relocating firms. In recent decades, pressure from elected officials and local business leaders to foster growth and development has pushed the planning profession further into the realm of economic development and real estate development. This redirection of the profession requires a new set of skills from planners, ones that emphasize entrepreneurship and political astuteness. An element of this course is the investigation of this transition and the discussion of the evolution of economic development planning over the past half-century. The course begins with an overview of the history of economic development planning. Attention then turns toward the various strategies and programs that have been utilized in the 1980s and 1990s to foster economic growth and development in America’s cities. New to the course this year is a detailed look at different approaches to local economic development financing, including tax increment financing, revolving loan funds, and venture capital. The class then discusses the practice of economic development planning, including looking at what economic development planners do and how effective their strategies have proven to be. The course also takes a look at the Orlando’s economic development “success” through a review of Fogelsong’s book Married to the Mouse and a recent investigative report by the Orlando Sentinel. The course closes with a look at the future of local economic development planning. The Course Approach
As this is a graduate level course, students will be expected to read and comprehend a substantial amount of material. This course is not an economic development “methods” course and will instead focus upon coverage of issues and topics that define the field of economic development. A final exam will test student comprehension of the major issues and topics covered throughout the entire course. 1.
To familiarize students with the history,
theories, and practices of local economic development planning in the United
States. 2.
To expose students to a broad range of
economic development policy options. 3.
To help students become more familiar with
the language, tasks, and experiences of economic development practice and
practitioners. 4.
To expose students to the many methods of
financing local economic development activities. 5.
To familiarize students with the
shortcomings and dilemmas of economic development planning in the United
States. 1.
Economic Development Finance Summary and
Presentation (15%) Students will be asked to prepare a
summary and make a presentation on a method for financing economic
development. These summaries will be due and the presentations will occur on
October 22nd. More details will be provided in a handout. 2.
Final Exam (30%) A take home Final Exam will be handed out during the last week of class. This represents the primary opportunity to illustrate your comprehension of the material covered in the course. This exam will take the form of short answer and essay responses (Due December 11th). 3.
An Individual Term Paper (25%; 3%
proposal, 7% draft, 15% final paper) Each student will complete a term paper for the course that investigates and analyzes a particular economic development strategy, a program, or project of interest to the student. More details will be provided in a handout. 4.
Book Review (15%) Each student will complete a review of an economic development book of their choosing during the semester. This review is intended to achieve two goals: 1) expose students to a broader literature in their topic area of interest and 2) push students to work on their term papers in a more timely manner throughout the semester. More details will be provided in a handout. 5.
Class Participation (15%) “Class Participation” centers on two major components; attendance and preparedness. First, you need to attend class in order to reap the full benefits of the course. As this course meets once a week, a missed class represents missing one week of class. Second, you should be prepared for each class, having completed the required readings and being prepared to discuss your interpretation of these. Each student will be assigned to be a “topic presenter” for a reading every other week or so. On those days, the student is expected to have carefully reviewed the reading and prepared detailed notes on that reading. The “topic presenters” will be responsible for leading the discussion in class on their assigned topic. The instructor is also arranging visits to local economic development planning agencies. Every effort will be made to arrange these visits for dates/times that fit into the schedules of all students. These visits are a mandatory element of the course. Failure to attend these events will result in a substantial reduction of this part of your grade. Note that in return for attendance at these events, class has been cancelled on November 26th. Contact with the Instructor Course Texts --Fogelsong, Richard. (2001). Married to the Mouse: Walt Disney World and Orlando. Yale University Press. (MTTM) --Pagano, Michael, and Ann Bowman (1997). Cityscapes and Capital: The Politics of Urban Development. London: The Johns Hopkins University Press. (C&C) --White, Sammis, Richard Bingham, and Edward Hill (Eds.) (2003). Financing Economic Development in the 21st Century. London: M.E. Sharpe Press. (FED) --Additional course reading material will be made available at the Reserves Desk in Strozier Library or in a folder in the DURP Reading Room. Course Reading Material Online Link (Password protected) Note that readings are to
be done by the day shown on the course calendar. Honor Code
ADA Requirements
(This syllabus and other class materials are available in alternative format upon request.) For more information about services available to FSU students with disabilities, contact the Assistant Dean of Students: sdrc@admin.fsu.edu, Disabled Student Services, 08 Kellum Hall, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32306-4066, (850) 644-9566. Week 1: August 27th Topic #1: What is Economic Development
Planning? **PLED Overview and Chapter 1 **Fainstein
(1991). “Promoting Economic Development.” Journal
of the American Planning **http://12.39.209.165/xp/EDAPublic/Research/EcoDev.xml
(EDA’s What is Economic --Blakely
(2000). “Economic Development” in Hoch, Dalton, and So’s The Practice of Local
Week 2: Sept 3rd
Topic #1: Investigating
How the Local Economy Works
**Thompson
(1965). “Economic Growth and Development: Processes, Stages, and Topic #2: The Major Theories of
Economic Development
**PLED
Chapter 3 **http://12.39.209.165/xp/EDAPublic/Research/EcoDev.xml
(EDA’s What is Economic Week 3: Sept
10th Topic #1: U.S. Economic Development History: The Three Waves **PLED pp. 42-50 Topic #2: Movie: Michael Moore’s Roger and Me Week 4: Sept 17th
Topic #1: Evaluating and
Understanding Flint’s Response to Deindustrialization
**Natter and Jones. (1993) “Pets or Meat: Class, Ideology,
and Space in Roger & Me.”
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