- Local authorities response to restructuring   60 kb by    Odero, Kenneth | kodero@africaonline.co.zw.zw    Short Outline This study explores the relationship between restructuring processes and local economic development, focusing on 3 towns. By examining the ways in which local economic development is linked into the larger global restructuring processes, policy implications of the role of local [government] institutions can be assessed, empirically and theoretically. Abstract This paper discusses local authorities' response to economic restructuring. Since the early 1990s, the [central] government has been carrying out a number of reforms to stabilize the economy and create an environment for sustainable growth. In the face of both budget constraints and an increased burden of public service delivery with the trend toward decentralization, local authorities are under pressure to raise efficiency. As a consequence, local authority managers must struggle to guide their organizations in this uncertain environment. Data from three local authorities is analyzed for policy configurations that can thrive in this environment. Key words: Globalization, restructuring, local authorities, infrastructure investment and local economic development What is your contribution/case study about? The study explores the relationship between restructuring processes and local economic development, focusing on 3 Zimbabwean towns (Norton, Ruwa and Chinhoyi) during the 1990s. What is your personal involvement in the project/events being covered? I am the researcher and the local economic development consultant/advisor. What makes it interesting for participants? Based on the Zimbabwean experience, firstly, it will inform participant on the nature and dynamics of restructuring processes in terms of economic, institutional and physical dimensions. Secondly, it will give them insight of policy responses that may be undertaken by local government and other local institutions in enabling local economic development. Thirdly, it will give participant an opportunity to discuss how to cope locally and regionally with economic, technological and environmental transformations at global scale in our planning work. Keywords Globalisation, restructuring, local economic development Case Study presented on the ISOCARP Congress 2003: Planning in a more globalized World   Click to open the full paper as pdf document   Click to send an email to the author(s) of this paper