Economic development practices of cities in Ontario, Canada

This article contributes to the discussion on communities’ economic development efforts by providing empirical evidence from cities in Ontario, Canada. This article provides information on activities that cities in Ontario are emphasizing to foster economic development. Analysis of study data suggests that economic development efforts are generally institutionalized, as evidenced by the high number of cities adopting written economic development plans. This finding contrasts the “act now, think later” approach previously reported. However, the vast majority of economic development practices are traditional and conservative due to such reasons as the regulated institutional environment within which the cities operate, similar economic challenges that confront them, and the historical and geographical links that bind the majority of the cities. The article concludes by suggesting key avenues for future research.