ABSTRACT

From the interviews and subsequent analyses emerge a plethora of important findings about the types of responses seen in these eight regions. Table 7.1 highlights the significant variation seen across regions in terms of response type and specific strategies. A quick tally of the case study regions suggests that ‘Bowing Out’ and ‘Betting on the Basics’ were the most often utilized response types during this time period. In other words, the most popular approach amongst these large Rust Belt regions was to either ‘fight or take flight.’ Leaders in these Rust Belt regions either ‘fought’ against deindustrialization by continuing to target existing heavy industry for economic development initiatives or ‘fled’ by abandoning the struggling manufacturing sector and focusing on other industrial sectors for development. Though elements of ‘Bidding Down’ and ‘Sharing the Wealth’ were seen in some of the case study regions, regional actors were far more likely to use ‘Bowing Out’ or ‘Betting on the Basics’ as an over-arching guide to their respective economic development responses.