ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on local economic development and the relationship that it holds with sustainability. It introduces the performance measurement activities occurring in this policy area in American cities. The chapter also focuses somewhat narrowly on a more traditional economic development focus—as opposed to a broader look at the intersection of the environment and economic development. It examines a number of policies that can also be considered part of a city's sustainable economic development tool kit. The chapter complements and contributes to a more comprehensive and complete understanding of local sustainable development policy. Although it approaches sustainability from a land-use planning perspective, significant synergies exist between land-use planning and economic development. The chapter starts with an overview of the practice and the goals of local economic development and then narrows to a focus on how sustainable economic development fits into this policy area. It moves into a study of the performance measurement activities in sustainable economic development.
