Economic Development at the Community Level: Creating Local Wealth and Resilience in Developing Countries

How do we create more economic opportunities in the low-income communities of the developing world? How can these communities build greater resilience against economic uncertainties, natural disasters, wars, and the growing threats of climate change? This book reviews the research literature of economic development in low-income communities of the developing world—from rural villages to neighborhoods in the largest cities on earth. This book is unique in gathering, organizing, and synthesizing research on economic development at the community level, across the developing world, drawing from multiple disciplines, publications, methodologies, regions, and countries. Part I provides an overview and context of the many challenges facing the developing world today, as well as the often-heated debates over what "development" is and how to make it happen. Part II reviews the extensive research literature in major fields of community economic development including education and human capital, overcoming the "curse of natural resources," entrepreneurship and micro-finance, tourism, and sustainability. The audience includes undergraduate students interested in development and sustainability, graduate students and other young researchers in a wide range of disciplines who are finding their own focuses, and established researchers who wish to expand their agendas. An expanded bibliography accompanies the book as a downloadable supplement.

Table of Contents:
Part I: The challenges of creating wealth and resilience for communities in developing countries; 1. What stands in the way of developing countries and communities becoming developed?; 2. What are developing countries, and what does development mean for the low-income communities of those countries?; 3. How does development happen, and is it possible for communities to control their own development destiny?; Part II: The opportunities for creating wealth and resilience for low-income communities in developing countries; 4. Can low-income communities in developing countries realize their human capital potential?; 5. Can low-income communities of developing countries overcome the curse of natural resources?; 6. Can entrepreneurs solve all the problems of economic development for low-income communities in developing countries?; 7. Can tourism create economic development for low-income communities in developing countries?; 8. Can low-income communities in developing countries maintain resilience and sustainability in their economic development?

About the Author :
Mark M. Miller is a Professor of Geography; School of Biological, Environmental, and Earth Sciences (BEES); the University of Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg. His professional and research interests in economic development for low-income communities have included Mississippi and the Gulf South, Arizona, Nunavut, Belize, Guatemala, Mexico, Jamaica, and Cuba.