Publication Date

5-2020

Date of Final Oral Examination (Defense)

4-3-2020

Type of Culminating Activity

Dissertation

Degree Title

Doctor of Philisophy in Public Policy and Administration

Department

Public Administration

Supervisory Committee Chair

Greg Hill, Ph.D.

Supervisory Committee Member

Ross Burkhart, Ph.D.

Supervisory Committee Member

Steven Utych, Ph.D.

Abstract

In the global war for talent and investment, local policymakers are at a seeming disadvantage particularly in smaller cities as talent and capital are mobile while local policies are not. This often results in wasteful “copy thy neighbor” “race-to-the-bottom” in local policies. In these three essays, I develop a theory of Location-Based Passions (LBPs) and show that individual job seekers will accept lower salaries and benefits to be close to what they love, that there are long-term economic benefits in terms of greater per capita income and higher housing values to being recognized as an LBP star city, and look at the case of Boise, Idaho. Using active outdoor sports as a primary example, I argue that people will pay to play, that cities that play also pay, and that a winning strategy for local policymakers and firms is to play to their unique inherent strengths in leisure and cultural amenities to attract and retain top-talent and investment.

DOI

10.18122/td/1694/boisestate

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