The phenomenon of community economic development (CED) is a rather recent one due to the comparative novelty of the idea of collaboration in promoting economic growth. Nonetheless, several studies have already explored the benefits and opportunities of the specified concept, the paper by Clay and Jones (2009) being a recent example. The authors discuss the phenomenon of CED, in general, delving into the origins thereof, the changes that it has undergone throughout the course of its history, and the shape that it is going to take within the new few decades. According to the authors, there have been several key milestones in the evolution of the notion of CED, which include the changes brought by the civil rights movements (). The resulting ubiquitous nature of the CED phenomenon has allowed it to trickle into both the urban and rural settings, introducing its residents to the idea of the continuous economic progress.
The main strength of the article lies in its premise of encompassing the history of CED and its development, with the resulting intention to outline its future prospects. The overview of the subject matter is expected to help in identifying the future directions of the CED as a notion, which is critical given the difference sin the urban and rural settings, as well as the gradual urbanization of most environments. The idea of considering the CED history has also helped to identify some of the flaws in the recent approaches toward supporting community economy, which will allow improving the joined efforts to address economic concerns.
Unfortunately, the methodology used by the authors is one of the flaws than needs to be addressed when considering the overall value of the paper. By using the systematic review as the main method of exploring the subject matter, the authors have managed to grasp the complexity and the multilateral nature of CED, yet the lack of precision has affected the research significantly. Moreover, the lack of grey literature, which could have helped in shedding light on the issue, may have contributed to a rise in bias, thus affecting the outcomes of the research.
Nonetheless, the results of the study have clearly served their purpose of outlining the major milestones in the development of CED. Although the scope of the research was restricted to the American experience of the subject matter, it still provided an accurate portrayal of how CED developed during different eras of the U.S. history. As a result, the main factors in promoting the CED evolution have been defied.
The outcomes of the study are crucial for the further improvement of the CED development and the identification of the strategies for enhancing it in the future. With the clear understanding of the factors that contribute to CED evolution and the ones that inhibit it, one will be able to create a clearly delineated strategy for enhancing CED in the American community. Moreover, the array of factors that determine the successful management of economic issues that organizations would not be able to handle on their own. Furthermore, the opportunities for alleviating the effects of poverty, as well as reducing its rates, possibly getting rid of the phenomenon, in general, have been the main areas in which contemporary CED has been evolving. The specified discovery allows outlining the future efforts for managing possible economic crises and sets the premise for follow-up research.
Although the notion of CED is comparatively new, numerous strategies associated with its premise and supporting the vision on which it is based have already been designed. Moreover, the rise in the role of CED in the global economic development has proven the necessity to adjust the proposed economic measures to the specific environments, needs, and properties of local communities. However, the absence of homogeneity in the specified strategies may also pose a threat to the further integration of CED-related practices into the contemporary economic setting. In their study, Deller et al. (2017) evaluate the efficacy of local food systems as a strategy for promoting CED as the principal standard for economic development on a local scale (Deller, Lamie, & Stickel, 2017). Due to the application of the qualitative index as a measurement tool for determining the productivity of the CED framework based on boosting the local food production, Deller et al. (2017) have managed to conduct a compelling analysis of CED and its current development trajectories.
In addition, the authors should be credited for the measurement technique that they have selected for their study. Quantitative research requires compelling and accurate tools for data measurement, the absence of which devalues the research outcomes significantly in a range of cases. However, in the article produced by Deller et al. (2017), the inclusion of a measurement framework that has allowed for the precise identification of main factors affecting the development of local food networks as the ostensible contributors to the rise in the influence of CED. The methodological foundation for the article become one of its main advantages as the authors enhance the accuracy of the results and build the further strategy for tackling issues in the food industry by addressing the food system design.
By performing an in-depth quantitative analysis of the effects that the local-food-based economy has on the enhancement of the CED progress, Deller et al. (2017) managed to produce an investing and propound research of some of the strategies that may help to approach the issue of CED in the urban and rural settings. Moreover, the authors render the issues of organization and policy for implementing the developed food systems as the means of galvanizing the performance across local food networks.
Finally, the multilateral evaluation of consumer demand serves as a perfect platform for improving the existing local food networks and creating a homogenous strategy that will increase the efficacy of CED. Therefore, the paper by Deller et al. (2017) contributes to the study of CED and its further progress by analyzing the problems within one of the current areas of CED development. Thus, the paper contains multiple strengths that amplify its impact and contribution to the analysis of CED.
The article also contains several minor weaknesses, which may have affected the research results slightly. For example, the authors never address directly the biases that may have emerged during the data collection process or the analysis of the key information. Therefore, the outcomes of the study may have been slightly skewed, thus introducing a small amount of confusion into the study of CED and its progress.
Nevertheless, the article has produced a crucial impact on the assessment of CED and its future opportunities. The research provides the foundation for future analysis of other areas where CED is applied, prompting the enhancement of entrepreneurs’ increased autonomy and the importance of unity among businesses. Thus, the research by Deller et al. (2017) should be credited for its role in outlining the possible future of CED.
References
Clay, R. A., & Jones, S. R. (2009). A brief history of community economic development. Journal of Affordable Housing & Community Development Law. Chicago, 18(3), 257-267.
Deller, S. C., Lamie, D., & Stickel, M. (2017). Local foods systems and community economic development. Community Development, 48(5), 612-638. Web.