Local Government Archives

Promoting local SME participation in public procurement

April 10, 2023

6 min read

Promoting local SME participation in public procurement

Promoting local small- and medium-enterprise (SME) participation in public procurement markets should be crucial in any government’s support for local economic development. I will never forget the experience of working in Glasgow many years ago in housing estates that contained extremely high levels of multigenerational unemployment. I remember meeting men and women who sat idling…

Introducing MyPlaceMatters

November 6, 2019

3 min read

MyPlaceMatters: A One-Stop Resource for Place-Based Economic Development I am thrilled to announce the launch of a new website. MyPlaceMatters is a resource for anyone working in local and regional areas to develop the economy, create jobs and improve the quality of life. Where we live, work, invest, and grow affects who we are. It…

Supporting city and local government innovation

September 19, 2019

5 min read

City and local government authorities can be more innovative in the way they work, share data and stimulate local innovation. Characteristics of innovative local governments While there is no single pathway to success, there are characteristics that high-performing city and local governments share: First, innovative city and local government authorities make sure that very different…

Making places for innovation; lessons from Mexico City

September 12, 2019

6 min read

How local governments can support social and innovation through collaboration. While the national buzz around innovation in Australia appears to have somewhat subsided, there is growing evidence of the role local actors can play in stimulating innovation. Local innovation ecosystems nurture private and public innovation. National policy frameworks are important, but state and local initiatives…

Job Creation|Local Economic Development|Local Government|Public Policy|Regional Development

How local government councillors can support economic development

August 6, 2019

7 min read

This post explores the ways local government councillors can support economic development. Local governments play an important role in the local economy. While professional staff can guide and advise councils, elected local councillors make the final decisions. My Place Matters (powered by Publicus) has produced a short guide on how local government councillors can support…

Economic Development in Practice: Are you a planner, a gardener or a searcher?

July 31, 2019

6 min read

Successful economic development practice comes from adopting the right approach at the right time. It is important to understand the differing roles that practitioners can play when supporting growth and development. Are you are an economic planner, gardener or searcher? Economic development is a complex, multifaceted process. There is no solver bullet. While it is important…

Australia and the new municipalism

June 2, 2019

8 min read

Beset by recent political and economic disruptions, many local governments in Europe and North America are adopting new approaches to governance and economic development. While Australia has a different model to local government, how can movements such as the ‘new municipalism’ and ‘community wealth building’ influence Australian local governments? Australia has famously benefited from almost…

The Local Business Environment and Decentralised Cooperation

March 8, 2019

2 min read

PLATFORMA, the pan-European coalition of local and regional governments engaged in international cooperation for sustainable development, has just published my report on the Local business Environment and Decentralised Cooperation. This report shows how improving the local business requires capacity development for local governments and decentralisation reforms. Through decentralised cooperation, local and regional governments can lead reforms that…

Business Environments|Job Creation|Local Economic Development|Public Policy

Creating a better local business environment (Part 3): Options for reform

February 26, 2018

15 min read

Improving the local business environment This post looks at how local governments can improve the local business environment. Local reforms will improve the conditions for business and economic growth. Local governments are at the frontline of the economic growth agenda. While national and state governments set the broader conditions, it is at the local level where…

Business Environments|Job Creation|Local Economic Development|Public Policy

Creating a better local business environment (Part 2): What to measure

February 12, 2018

9 min read

How to assess the local business environment In this post I examine the ways to assess the local business environment and improve it. In the first post in this series I described the role of local government in supporting local business growth and the importance of a business environment that is conducive to innovation and…

Business Environments|Job Creation|Local Economic Development|Public Policy|Regulatory Reform

Creating a better local business environment (Part 1): The role of local government

February 6, 2018

14 min read

Local government creates better business environments

How local governments create better business environments for SMEs In this post, I look at how local government can create better business environments. How local government can influence the decisions of businesspeople to invest and create jobs Local government is often overlooked as a critical arena for microeconomic reforms. Local councils can influence the decisions…

Business Environments|Entrepreneurial Places|Local Economic Development|Regional Development|Regulatory Reform

Research in Progress: Beyond National Business Environment Reform

January 29, 2016

3 min read

Many public policy reforms focus on national level systems. However, increasingly attention is given to the other systems. This is especially true when the policy, legal and regulatory concerns of the private sector are considered. Many firms experience problems at the local level as they bump up against the licenses, permits, regulations, and bylaws local…

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