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Synonyms

Attraction/retention/expansion activities; Development incentive programs; Entrepreneurship; Small enterprise development; Tax abatements

Definitions

Economic development:

public, and often governmental, intervention in a market to facilitate private-sector investment and encourage job growth.

Incentives:

provision of special considerations, including tax abatements, loans, or cash grants, to businesses meeting economic development program employment or investment criteria.

Business attraction:

policies and programs designed to bring businesses located elsewhere to an area engaging in such policy measures.

Business expansion:

policies and programs designed to grow businesses located in an area.

Business retention:

policies and programs designed to keep businesses in an area that may otherwise close or move elsewhere.

Introduction

Economic development has been defined as “a program, group of policies, or activity that seeks to improve the economic well-being and quality of life...

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Correspondence to Christopher L. Atkinson .

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Atkinson, C.L. (2017). Economic Development Policy. In: Farazmand, A. (eds) Global Encyclopedia of Public Administration, Public Policy, and Governance. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-31816-5_228-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-31816-5_228-1

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  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-31816-5

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-31816-5

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