Community Efficacy for Economic Development in Lane County, Oregon

Abstract

An active local and regional economic development strategy is a vital component to the long-term economic health of communities. Many consider building a community’s capacity to engage in collective action - or community efficacy - a key component in economic development. However, few models exist for measuring community efficacy and the underlying factors for that capacity. In the article Building Capacity for Community Efficacy for Economic Development in Mississippi, Parisi et al. (2002) provided the first empirical framework for examining these specific issues. In addition to providing a methodology for measuring community efficacy, the authors examined the extent to which some features of the community might account for differences in a community’s involvement in economic development. Utilizing the Parisi model, this study explores the strength of community efficacy towards economic development in Lane County, Oregon. Findings reveal that community efficacy in Lane County may be more complex than can be captured in an empirical model, particularly at the county or regional level. Furthermore, the empirical model may actually provide a false view of community efficacy and ignore larger issues that may lead to community failure.