The Detroit region has a global reputation as a relic of the old economy, while the city is often portrayed as an urban dystopia bound to a decaying industrial heritage. Both images are stereotypes that hide the vast changes that have already occurred in Detroit’s regional economy and the opportunities these changes present Detroit going forward. This paper describes how the Detroit regional economy has been evolving from its dependence on manufacturing to a more diversified service-based economy. Implications for the city of Detroit are also discussed. (forthcoming, The Service Industries Journal)

The professional and business services (PBS) sector is an important and expanding portion of the US economy and an essential element of most major metropolitan area economies. Beyond creating jobs, professional and business services can generate regional exports and increase innovation and productivity, thereby supporting economic growth. However, while PBS employment growth is largely positive for regional economies, opportunities are not evenly spread. Understanding the regional dynamics of the PBS sector is an imperative for economic development and community leaders. (pdf link to article)

An explanation for why women have emerged as an important entrepreneurial group and why they have moved beyond traditional sectors can be found in examinations of changes in women’s human capital—especially their educational attainment, occupational representation, and entrepreneurial preparedness. (pdf link to paper)

A gap exists between human capital theories and human capital policies. State and local policies that are designed to increase human capital either by raising educational attainment levels or by using amenities to attract college-educated individuals will still struggle to achieve their ultimate objective: greater economic growth. The reason: an overemphasis on young, educated workers diverts attention away from other important factors that affect growth prospects and that are also critical components of human capital. (pdf link to journal)

A more sophisticated approach to business attraction emphasizes understanding what is happening in the industries and individual businesses that economic development agencies want to attract. It shifts the focus from broad industry targets to specific company targets and, in the process, creates a marketing plan tailored to each prospect. The key to this approach is in-depth research to identify the strategic shifts that will lead specific companies to relocate or establish new facilities. (link to article pdf)

2009 RESER Conference (link to presentation PDF)

2008 GMU Entrepreneurship Research Conference (link to presentation PDF)

Economic development professionals now recognize that growth and prosperity do not come solely or even primarily from external business attraction. Instead, innovation is considered the main driver of economic growth in today's economy. However, standard measures of innovation — especially R&D spending, number of patents and technology transfer — can leave communities that do not have a leading research university or a high technology cluster wondering about their prospects. Research suggests that communities should examine three additional factors that can support innovation and growth in most locations: telecommunications infrastructure, professional and business services, and entrepreneurship. (pdf link to presentation)