While Waiting for Rain: Community, Economy, and Law in a Time of Change

A sensible community might choose to focus on innovation and local resources to stimulate economic growth, rather than relying on external factors or waiting for an economy to emerge.

Format: Hardback
Length: 438 pages
Publication date: 14 December 2022
Publisher: The University of Michigan Press

What might a sensible community choose to do if its economy has fallen apart and becoming a ghost town is not an acceptable option? Unfortunately, answers to this question have long been measured against an implicit standard: the postwar economy of the 1950s. After showing why that economy provides an implausible standard—made possible by the lack of economic competition from the European and Asian countries, winners or losers, touched by the war—John Henry Schlegel attempts to answer the question of what to do. While Waiting for Rain first examines the economic history of the United States as well as that of Buffalo, New York: an appropriate stand-in for any city that may have seen its economy start to fall apart in the 1960s, 70s, and 80s. It makes clear that neither Buffalo nor the United States as a whole has had an economy in the sense of “a persistent market structure that is the fusion of an understanding of economic life with the patterns of behavior within the economic, political, and social institutions that enact that understanding” since both economies collapsed. Next, this book builds a plausible theory of how economic growth might take place by examining the work of the famous urbanist, Jane Jacobs, especially her book Cities and the Wealth of Nations. Her work, like that of many others, emphasizes the importance of innovation for economic growth, but is singular in its insistence that such innovation has to come from local resources. It can neither be bought nor given, even by well-intentioned political actors. As a result, Americans generally, as well as locally, are like farmers in the midst of a drought, left to review their resources and wait. Finally, it returns to both the local Buffalo and the national economies to consider what these political units might do to improve their economic prospects.

The book begins by examining the economic history of the United States and Buffalo, New York, which were both hit hard by the economic downturn of the 1960s, 70s, and 80s. It shows that neither city had a true economy in the sense of a persistent market structure that was the fusion of an understanding of economic life with the patterns of behavior within the economic, political, and social institutions that enacted that understanding. This is because both economies were dominated by large corporations and government bureaucracies, which were not responsive to the needs of the people.

Next, the book builds a plausible theory of how economic growth might take place by examining the work of Jane Jacobs. Jacobs emphasized the importance of innovation for economic growth, but she insisted that such innovation had to come from local resources. She argued that large corporations and government bureaucracies were not capable of creating innovation, and that it was up to local communities to create their own economic opportunities.

The book then looks at the specific case of Buffalo, New York, and how it has attempted to improve its economic prospects. It shows that the city has made some progress, but that it has faced many challenges. One of the biggest challenges is the lack of economic competition from other cities. Buffalo is located in a region that is dominated by large corporations and government bureaucracies, and it has been difficult for new businesses to enter the market.

To address this challenge, the city has implemented a number of policies aimed at promoting economic growth. These policies include tax incentives for businesses, investment in infrastructure, and support for small businesses. The city has also worked to improve its education system, which is a key factor in economic growth.

However, the book also shows that the city has faced some challenges in implementing these policies. One of the biggest challenges is the lack of political will. Many politicians in Buffalo are more interested in maintaining the status quo than in promoting economic growth. This has led to a lack of investment in infrastructure and a lack of support for small businesses.

Despite these challenges, the book argues that Buffalo has the potential to become a thriving city again. It has a strong workforce, a diverse economy, and a number of unique assets. However, it will require a lot of hard work and dedication from the people of Buffalo to make this happen.

In conclusion, Waiting for Rain is a book that examines the economic history of the United States and Buffalo, New York, and how these cities have attempted to improve their economic prospects. It argues that the postwar economy of the 1950s is an implausible standard, and that local communities need to take control of their economic futures. The book builds a plausible theory of how economic growth might take place by examining the work of Jane Jacobs, and it shows that Buffalo has the potential to become a thriving city again. However, it will require a lot of hard work and dedication from the people of Buffalo to make this happen.

ISBN-13: 9780472075614