Date of Conferral

4-25-2025

Date of Award

April 2025

Degree

Ph.D.

School

Public Policy and Administration

Advisor

Glenn Starks

Abstract

Economic renewal and development are an essential elements of urban economic development within numerous cities in the United States. Little has been reported concerning methods used to implement policy to create the conditions desirable for economic growth and development. The purpose of this study was to investigate the corelative relationship between implementation methods used and the outcomes of economic growth and development policy, applying Pierson's (1993) Policy Feedback Theory as the theoretical framework. Using a mixed methods-based study of quantitative and quantitative methods, to examine the correlation between policy implementation practices and resulting barriers in local economic growth and development, and qualitative, in examining the effects that method of data analysis as recognized by local policymakers and professionals within the local economic development communities in ten Massachusetts communities. Quantitative analysis of data was conducted based upon Kendall’s Tau and Pearson’s rho. Similarly, qualitative content analysis was conducted through review the content of focus group discussions such as creating a preliminary coding frame that will serve as a working structure in the process of data analysis and allow for identifying patterns in responses. Triangulation was applied to determine if the results of the qualitative and quantitative analysis provide validity to the relationship. The final outcomes provided a correlation between implementation difficulties and the dynamics of policy outcomes in local economic development. Participants in focus groups provided examples of what methods have been used to overcome such barriers.

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Economics Commons

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