Investing in California's Future
and physical infrastructure to make the state prosperous. The article provides perspectives from five Californians:
Ed Kawahara, executive director, California Economic Strategy Panel
Trish Kelly, economic development consultant, California Center for Regional Leadership
John Elwood, professor of public policy, UC Berkeley
Jean Ross, executive director, California Budget Project
Lenny Goldberg, Lenny Goldberg & Associates/California Tax Reform Association.
Each provide an insightful view to the key issues confronting the state. However, while interesting as an
introductory piece, the responses provide little if any new insight to the decade old discussion on how to
position California in the future, specifically into the 21st Century, given that we are already seven years into it. Thus with no clear over-arching solutions to have appeared in this article, this discussion has already been beaten to death and the responses provided in this article again read like more of the same.
Additionally and unfortunately, it appears conveying the thoughts of the interviewees was lost in the article for this group specifically as individuals have all participated in this discussion before and are all very knowledgeable to the ways to help cure the ills of the state.
But a comment made illustrating that 'No Size Fits all' in response in looking to solve California's economic future misses the mark.
Economic Development theory tells us that it takes one or more of the following components to drive an economy:
- Infusion of Capital
- Increase in Population
- Harvesting of Natural Resources
- Changes in Technology
Ask the question to the panelist about how to incorporate solutions to education and infrastructure based upon the above four components and you may find a more lively discussion and response(s).
The article misses the mark and does not utilize theory and the insight of its educated panel to succinctly and coherently support its case for what investments in terms of dollars and programmatic services are required to ensure a prosperous California economy.
Certainly the importance of an educated workforce is tantamount to California's success, but isn't that a given? What about access to capital or the magnitude of the state's regulatory environment or about the
level of customer service and deployment of services (statewide leadership) to met the need(s) of an innovative business community?
To project California into the future, a cafeteria based statewide economic development strategy is the prescription for success, It needs to be a broad-based strategy that provides the different regions with a variety of programs and services that can be utilized and incorporated and prioritized into use based upon the nuances and requirements of the state's individual regions to ensure future success.
Tim Johnson
www.CaliforniaBusinesMinute.com
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