Local Government: A Powerful Tool for Economic Prosperity

Every presidential election cycle, the economy comes up as a massive issue for most Americans. Polls tend to show that over 80% of Americans consider it “very important” to their vote. But what exactly does a strong economy look like? What kind of policy is best to grow the economy? And with it being such an important issue for so many Americans, what role does local government play? The question also arises to how we can harness that enthusiasm for the economy and use it to get people to vote in local elections?

Let’s begin by discussing what economic policy really looks like, differing opinions on the national level, and then get into what local government can do.

There are two main theories of economic policies, and economists will probably never agree on which one works best. Republicans tend to support supply-side economics and support things like tax breaks for corporations and the rich. This can also be called ‘trickle-down economics.’ Democrats support Keynesian economics, supporting more government involvement and assistance. A considerable difference is shown in recessions, like the one we are going through now during COVID.

But what is the local government’s role? With so much emphasis on the national economy, how do local governments play in?

Well, a strong local economy can be defined as one with lots of well-paying jobs. Local governments want to attract and keep high-paying companies and the high-quality employees that work for them. In addition, they want to improve the standard of living and the quality of life of residents. So they want to attract, create, retain and expand jobs.

Policy-wise the best route is to focus on both conventional economic concerns and more general quality of life improvements.

Quality businesses want to exist in places with a high quality of life, and employees want to live there. People seek many things from the place they choose to live, including low crime, good healthcare, good childcare and schools, high-speed internet, well-maintained roads, and clean air and outdoors.

This means government initiatives to create recreational venues, parks and trails, beautification, support for the local arts scene, and increasing the quality of public education are all very effective ways to strengthen the economy.

Some more conventional strategies that local government can invest in are:

• Workforce development training by local educational institutions
• Business incubator services to help create businesses
• The construction of buildings to attract manufacturing enterprises
• Business visitation, retention, and expansion programs
• Increasing the level of education through managerial or vocational educational offerings

The relationship between the community and economic development is very close. So what exactly can local government do?

The local government funds education and healthcare, spending about half their budget on it. School boards decide what the district’s goals are, determining the budget and the learning materials used. The local government funds local arts initiatives and new development. They determine what can be built on land in the community and can create green spaces. They can adopt sustainability programs to ensure the community is beautiful and healthy.

This means we need local government officials that will take on projects that will fight for their constituents and get the economy back on track. It is more important than ever to vote in local elections for the city council, mayor, school board, and many other critical positions. They also decide how to get the economy back on track after the pandemic.

So if you aren’t happy with your local economy and want your city to do more, tell them by voting. Rideshare2Vote is committed to getting out the vote and increasing voter turnout in all elections, including local elections where a couple of hundred voters can make all the difference. That is why we run year-round, every year.

by Betsy Zalinski