The Role of Local Development Organizations in Rural America*

Abstract Rural communities rely increasingly on local development organizations (LDOs) to promote economic development. The rise of LDOs has been the source of much debate. Using a national data set that links local governments with development organizations, we contrast the economic development activities, and their outcomes, of local governments and development organizations in rural America. We find that LDOs are involved in more economic development activities than are local governments. They are more successful at business recruitment and more effective at retention/expansion, both in number of firms and in jobs. The organizational networks of LDOs and local governments consistently influence their effectiveness. Finally, we examine the effects of an LDO's presence on the outcomes of business recruitment and of retention and expansion activities. The results suggest that the LDOs' success may be due in part to the networks in which they are embedded and to the amount of effort they make to promote growth.     

A Sequential procedure for studies comparing multiple doses

An attractive method of dealing with the multiplicity inherent in studies comparing multiple doses is to use a testing strategy in which hypotheses (or sets of hypotheses) are tested in a prespecified order, with rejection at each step a necessary condition for continuation to the next step. Such a strategy naturally lends itself to interim monitoring. We demonstrate how this may be achieved. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Native American casino gambling in Arizona: A case study of the Fort McDowell reservation

Since Congress passed the American Indian Gambling Regulatory Act (IGRA) in 1988, there has been an explosion in the number of gambling casinos located on Native American reservations. It is estimated that in 1994 the total net revenue from 81 Native American casinos exceeded $2.3 billion dollars. As the number of Native American casinos grows along with the volume of gambling activity, opposition increases from states, the established gambling industry hurt by lost revenues, and groups with moral objections to gambling. This article reports on an effort to measure the economic impact of the Fort McDowell casino located near Phoenix, Arizona. The article discusses the casino's history and current operations. Next, it explains the use of an input-output model to compute the impact of casino's income and employment effects on the economy of Maricopa County. It is estimated that the casino is responsible for 2,483 new jobs, and an increase of approximately $80.35 million in regional output. Additional information is necessary to more accurately assess both the benefits and costs of the casino. Unfortunately, subsequent efforts to collect additional data have been unsuccessful. The conclusion discusses why, and raises questions regarding Native American gaming.An earlier version of this paper was presented at the 9th International Conference on Gambling and Risk Taking, May 31–June 3, 1994, Las Vegas, Nevada. This research was funded by a FGIA grant from Arizona State University. The author expresses his appreciation to the referees who provided substantial guidance in improving the original paper. Any remaining errors are mine.     

Demographic change,rising earnings inequality,and the distribution of personal well-being, 1959–1989

This paper uses new methods to determine the sources of the sharp fall and then the steep rise in personal income inequality between 1959 and 1989. The increase in the proportion of single-head families tended to boost inequality over the entire period. Forty percent of the reduction in income inequality in the 1960s occurred because of the decline in earnings inequality among male heads of families; more than one-third of the increase in inequality after 1969 occurred because inequality in male earnings soared. Since 1979 females’ gains in earnings have increased inequality because these gains have been concentrated increasingly in families with high incomes     

Tiny Publics: Small Groups and Civil Society

It has been conventional to conceptualize civic life through one of two core images: the citizen as lone individualist or the citizen as joiner. Drawing on analyses of the historical development of the public sphere, we propose an alternative analytical framework for civic engagement based on small-group interaction. By embracing this micro‐level approach, we contribute to the debate on civil society in three ways. By emphasizing local interaction contexts—the microfoundations of civil society—we treat small groups as a cause, context, and consequence of civic engagement. First, through framing and motivating, groups encourage individuals to participate in public discourse and civic projects. Second, they provide the place and support for that involvement. Third, civic engagement feeds back into the creation of additional groups. A small‐groups perspective suggests how civil society can thrive even if formal and institutional associations decline. Instead of indicating a decline in civil society, a proliferation of small groups represents a healthy development in democratic societies, creating cross‐cutting networks of affiliation.     

The impact of information and computer based training on negotiators' performance

This paper presents the results of an experiment on negotiation, designed to measure the impact of (1) computerized training and (2) information on negotiators' performanceThe paper is structured as follows. First, we review the literature on negotiation training. Second, we develop a conceptual framework to link various forms of Negotiation Support Systems to joint and individual negotiation performance. Third, we present the negotiation paradigm — a bilateral monopoly — and the computerized training system we used. Regarding training, our results show an asymmetric impact on individual performance levels and, unexpectedly, a negative impact on negotiators' joint performance. In contrast, more information improves both individual and joint performance. Finally, we discuss these results, and outline further research questions.     

Work and Family Issues After Injury: Do Female and Male Client Perspectives Differ?

Role demands weigh differently on men and women and the balance of role demands shifts when adult family members sustain injuries that compromise their physical capacity. Clients with orthopaedic and soft tissue injuries (N = 53) who were settling insurance claims or currently in litigation were assessed using the Life Roles Inventory (Values and Salience Scales), a Life Satisfaction Questionnaire (structured interview), and measurements of physical capacity, perceived exertion, and functional ability. Findings from this exploratory study suggest that although commitment to the major life roles does not change following injury, levels of participation and role value for working and home/family roles do change. The disruption of social networks is likely related to the working role for women in professional and skilled occupations. Financial concerns, strain in personal relationships, level of independence in self care, and pain on activity significantly affect performance and satisfaction.     

Beyond the problem of meaning: Robert Wuthnow's historical sociology of culture

An earlier version of this article was presented to the American Sociological Association, August 1990. I am grateful for comments there, and especially for helpful readings of the earlier version by Peter Bearman, Judith Bennett, Philip O'Connell, Loic Wacquant, and the Editors ofTheory and Society.     

Client Anticipations About Computer‐Assisted Career Guidance System Outcomes

Although existing literature suggests that client anticipations affect career counseling, previous studies have not systematically assessed client anticipations prior to using computer‐assisted career guidance (CACG) systems in career counseling. This study describes how 55 clients from a career center at a large, southeastern university anticipated using CACG systems to help in their career decision making and problem solving. Using a Cognitive Information Processing framework, responses to a cued and a free response survey indicated that clients' most frequent anticipations included increased career options, enhanced self‐knowledge, and strengthened occupational knowledge.