Competitive regionalism in the superior east region

Abstract

This paper studies competitive regionalism, specifically analyzing the arguments made by Linda McCarthy’s paper which makes a strong case for regional cooperation for economic development (McCarthy, 2000). In relating to the key points McCarthy discussed, including pooling resources for large infrastructure projects, increasing the region's asset profile, and industrial clusters to create new jobs for the region, the author applies the suggestions in a rural Canadian context in Northern Ontario. By comparing the strategies developed by the Superior East Community Development Corporation (SECDC) board and management to create a better environment for regional initiatives, the author concludes with suggested best practices for regional cooperation in economic development.

Keywords: regionalism, competition, Superior East Community Development Corporation (SECDC), Northern Ontario