Urban Economic Development

Four major sectors are involved in the economic development of urban communities: (1) the population, or human sector; (2) the export industry sector; (3) the local service sector; (4) the agencies of government which serve the public needs of the area. Each sector develops its own goals and, at the same time, contributes to the fulfillment of the goals of the other sectors. In general, the goals of all four sectors are achieved by raising the real per capita productivity and income of the community. Co-operation among all the sectors, not always easy to achieve, is essential to the process of develop ment. The importance of a community's export industries in shaping its economy is critical. The local service sector depends heavily on the export sector. Local business leaders can play an effective role in developing and encouraging export industries to expand or locate in the community. The govern ment plays a powerful contributory role by helping preserve and improve the attractiveness of the community and the quality of its education and other government services. The human sector contributes skills and effort to all sectors and benefits both materially and in the quality of community life.