ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses the data from a survey mailed in the spring of 2001 to all 2,904 municipalities in the US with populations over 10,000 and all 450 communities of the same population size in Canada. Previous research suggests four types of civic culture: market, inclusive, bureaucratic and individualistic. A number of important conclusions drawn from the analysis. First, it is clear that it is possible to empirically identify a typology of local civic cultures using survey methodology and broader consideration of culture. Then, the local civic culture framework allows logical differentiation among cities. Finally, the empirical types of civic culture correlated with economic development policy outcomes in a logical and hypothesized fashion. The civic culture typology illustrates the interplay between business and bureaucratic elites particularly the importance of the latter in how the culture operates. It appears that the critical difference between active and passive market cities is the extent to which influential bureaucrats balance business interests.
