The Pursuit of Economic Development - Growing Good Jobs

In this review of The Pursuit of Economic Development, the author Todd M. Gabe offers a focused, research-driven look at what drives the creation of high-paying work in U.S. regions, and why policymakers should care. The book is best for readers who want an evidence-based account of economic development policy rather than a quick how-to guide; its biggest virtue is the systematic tracking of employment and income change across metropolitan areas and states from 1990 to the near present, which makes its conclusions about supporting high-paying U.S. jobs hard to dismiss.

Key Features

• Regional analysis: Detailed examination of metropolitan areas and states shows how outcomes vary across different U.S. regions, grounding policy discussion in place-specific evidence.
• Longitudinal data: Tracking employment and income change from 1990 to the near present allows readers to see long-term trends rather than short-term fluctuations.
• Factor-by-factor assessment: Each state and local characteristic, from workforce skills to industry mix, is assessed for its specific impact on the growth of good jobs.
• Policy guidance: The book provides clear principles for state and regional policy that are drawn directly from empirical findings.
• Audience focus: Written with elected officials, economic development practitioners, and students in mind, the text prioritizes applicability to real-world decision making.

Who It's For

This book is aimed at practitioners and policymakers who need a rigorous foundation for designing strategies to attract and retain well-paid employment in cities and states. Graduate students and researchers in public affairs or economic policy will also find the systematic comparisons across regions valuable.

Readers seeking a short guidebook of tactics or step-by-step playbooks for marketing a city may want to look elsewhere, because the emphasis here is on evidence and explanation rather than quick operational checklists.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Evidence-based approach links policy options to measurable changes in employment and income, which strengthens the credibility of recommendations.
• Comprehensive regional coverage makes the findings applicable to both state-level and metropolitan-level decision making.
• Clear identification of which local characteristics matter most helps prioritize limited public resources.

Cons

• The focus on long-term empirical analysis means the book is less useful for readers seeking immediate, tactical advice.
• Because the book emphasizes factors across many places, readers hoping for deep case studies of single cities may find the treatment broad rather than narrowly detailed.

Specifications

Title	The Pursuit of Economic Development: Growing Good Jobs in U.S. Cities and States
Author	Todd M. Gabe
Scope	U.S. metropolitan areas and states
Time period analyzed	1990 to the near present
Main focus	Employment and income change; growth of high-paying jobs
Intended audience	Elected officials, economic development practitioners, students

Our Verdict

The Pursuit of Economic Development is a valuable, research-rich resource for anyone shaping regional economic policy; its long-term, comparative approach makes its policy principles practical and defensible. Buyers focused on understanding which local characteristics truly support good jobs will find it a good value, while those seeking quick tactics should complement it with operational guides.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the book cover both cities and states?
Yes. The analysis tracks outcomes across U.S. metropolitan areas and states to compare regional differences.

What time span does the research use?
The research follows employment and income change from 1990 to the near present, enabling long-term trend analysis.

Who benefits most from reading this book?
Elected officials, economic development practitioners, and students interested in evidence-based policy will benefit most.