Enterprise Zone Programs Prosper And Increase Across The Nation

Enterprise zones have been part of American urban policy for over 20 years. In this book, the authors (urban and regional planning, the University of Iowa) use a hypothetical firm methodology to measure the value of enterprise zone incentives to business, involving construction of a set of financial statements for typical firms and application of tax code and incentives to those firms. They briefly discuss this model (with technical information on the model included in an appendix), and look at the results of enterprise zone programs in place in 13 states. Annotation copyrighted by Book News, Inc., Portland, OR

The first national study (Part One) ever to investigate the effect of Enterprise Zones on the employment of residents, and the first local study (Part Two) ever to investigate the number of jobs created per zone residents and business. Terry Van Allen's analyses draw some important, and surprising, conclusions from the data derived from the 1989 U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development national survey of 60 EZs and their surrounding communities in 14 states. Providing a thorough historical background covering state and federal programs in Great Britain as well as in the United States, and an overview of the literature and economic theories on employment, Terry Van Allen's study offers major insights on the implication of Enterprise Zones policy as well as crucial policy recommendations for greater efficiency and success.

The concept of the enterprise zone - with its targeted tax and other incentives - is analyzed, and case studies are critiqued, in the comprehensive coverage of this volume. It presents the viewpoints of academics, government researchers and public officials concerned with economic and development policy as well as local government. A section is devoted to international comparisons, which includes a discussion of British enterprise zones.