Global economic forces underpin political and social issues and have real impacts on the quality of life in local communities, cities, states and regions. In the face of potential volatility, leaders in every place concern themselves with how they can ensure local economic resiliency for present and future generations. This book argues for the strategic management of places through intentional public policy that brings together stakeholders from the public, private and nonprofit sectors to create an inclusive and sustainable economic path forward. While many economists and political scientists have proposed one-size-fits-all approaches, this book puts forward a more holistic approach, giving local leaders and policymakers the tools to take inventory of their local contexts and providing case study examples of how to craft public policies that create prosperous and sustainable economic conditions.

David B. Audretsch is a professor and Ameritech Chair of Economic Development and director of the Institute for Development Strategies at Indiana University (USA). He is editor-in-chief of the Small Business Economics Journal and advises private/nonprofit organizations and institutes, including the World Bank, OECD, EU, UN, and the American Center for Entrepreneurship.

Alice Civera is an assistant professor at the Department of Management Information and Production Engineering at the University of Bergamo (Italy) and visiting researcher at the Chair of Management& Organization at the University of Augsburg (Germany). Her main research interests include the comparison of higher education systems, public policy, and academic entrepreneurship.

Erik E. Lehmann is a professor at the University of Augsburg (Germany) and leads the Chair of Management and Organization. He also holds visiting posts at Indiana University (USA) and the University of Bergamo (Italy). He is the associate editor of the Small Business Economics Journal. He researches linkages between entrepreneurship, higher education, and corporate governance.

Konstantin P. Leidinger is a research and teaching fellow with the Chair of Management and Organization at the University of Augsburg (Germany), where he also works on an entrepreneurial project targeting students and scientific staff. His research interests include entrepreneurial narratives, impact entrepreneurship, and startup foundation.

Jonah M. Otto is a research and teaching fellow with the Chair of Management& Organization at the University of Augsburg (Germany), where he also manages international programs and partnerships. His research interests include the internationalization of higher education, international relations, public policy, and economic development.

Laurenz Weiße is a research and teaching fellow with the Chair of Management and Organization at the University of Augsburg (Germany) and Coordinator of the Global Business Management master degree program. His research interests include entrepreneurship and organizational studies, particularly in the field of corporate governance in religious organizations.

Katharine Wirsching is an assistant professor at the Chair of Management and Organization at the University of Augsburg (Germany) and a senior research fellow at the Institute for Development Strategies at Indiana University (USA). She researches entrepreneurial ecosystems, governance and innovation in family firms, female/immigrant entrepreneurship, and public policy.

Introduction.- Chapter 1 The Strategic Management of Places: Applying a Framework to Analyze Local Economies.- Part 1: Strategic Management of Places and Economic Development.- Chapter 2 Economic Development in an Autonomous Region within a State.- Chapter 3 An Analysis for Strategic Locational Management: The Case of Lombardy.- Chapter 4 The Economic Performance of Las Vegas - Shaping Culture and Identity through Economic Policy.- Chapter 5 Strategic Management of Places: The Case of Singapore.- Part 2: Employment, Labor Force and Equality.- Chapter 6 Regional Differences in Unemployment - the German Case.- Chapter 7 Analyzing Youth Unemployment and Brain Drain in Southern Italy.- Chapter 8 Skilled Labor Shortages - the Bavarian Case.- Chapter 9 The Gender Pay Gap in France.-Chapter 10 Population Decline - Detroit's Exodus.- Chapter 11 The Impact of Hosting the World Cup on the Economic Performance and Labor Conditions of Qatar.- Part 3: Environmental Challenges, Economic Development and the Region.- Chapter 12 The Norwegian Paradox Analyzing Overdependence on Oil Exports.- Chapter 13 Fracking in Texas - Effects on Economic Development and Future Outlook.- Chapter 14 The Economic Impact of Air Pollution in Beijing.- Chapter 15 The Intersection of Environmental Policy, Public Health& Economic Performance in Shanghai.- Part 4: Strategic Challenges and Outlook for Places.- Chapter 16 The Past, the Present, and the Future in Vorarlberg and Tyrol.- Chapter 17 Taranto - Revitalizing the Energy of a Mediterranean Port City.- Chapter 18 Overdependence of Silicon Valley on the Technology Industry.- Chapter 19 New York City - The Challenges of the American Dream.- Chapter 20 Dubai - A City of Contradictions.- Chapter 21 Cape Town Making Progress Possible. Together?