The Formula for Economic Growth on Main Street America

Defining Economic Growth in a Changing Business Climate
Economic Growth in Post-WWII America
Changing Views of Community Economic Growth through the 70s, 80s, and 90s
Births and Deaths of Companies, Industries, and Regions
Winners and Losers: Communities at the End of the Twentieth Century
Twenty-First Century Growth: Do Communities Compete in a Zero-Sum Game?

Viewing Economic Growth as Part of a Comprehensive Community Strategy
Static Economies: If Areas Do Not Grow, Do They Die?
Building Economic Growth into the Master Plan
Theoretical Foundations for Local Economic Growth
Public Policies for Economic Growth
Emerging Programs for Community Growth
Viewing Local Economic Growth from Different Perspectives
Planning for Economic Growth

Local Economies in Decline: How to Lose the Business Base
The Consequences of No-Growth Policies: Jobs, the Tax Base, and Economic Stagnation
Arresting Community "Brain Drains"
Community Gap Analyses
Where Public Policies Have Contributed to Job Losses or Slower Job Growth

Local Economic Recovery: Growth after the Fall
Can Losers Become Winners?
Cluster Economies
Case studies

The New Growth Economies: Attracting and Retaining the Local Business Base
Making the Pro-Growth Case to Local Elected Officials
Marketing at Home and Abroad
A Tale of Two Cities: A Comparison of Long Island, New York and Fairfax County, Virginia
Other Case Studies
Rural Economic Growth: Are There Unique Lessons?
Regional Economic Growth: Are There Unique Lessons?
Starting Up Start-Ups

Can Communities Suffer From Too Much Success?
Magnifying Existing Problems
Addressing New Problems
Managing Local Expectations

Will the Formula Change? —  Community Economic Growth in the Second Decade of the Millennium
The Growth Industries of Tomorrow
The Changing Components of Site Location Decisions
Diversification of the Local Economic Base
The Economics of Inclusion
Funding Local Economic Development: The Twin Pillars of Sufficiency and Consistency

Conclusions

Afterword

Bibliography

Biography

Gerald L. Gordon

Dr. Gordon has provided a comprehensive, analytic, and clear look at the importance and complexity of economic growth. His book provides a necessary framework and concrete examples. … an important read for both the expert and the student.
— Dr. Alan Merten, President, George Mason University, Fairfax, Virginia

Local economic growth requires true leadership. Dr. Gordon’s 25 years of experience in Fairfax County have yielded the kinds of valuable insights that can benefit other communities.
— Steven L. Davis, Chairman, Fairfax County Economic Development Authority & Former Senior Executive, Exxon Mobil Corporation