What are the most effective things that regional or state government can do to encourage economic and population growth in non metropolitan cities (c. 20,000 to 150,000 population size)
Dear Fiona, I compltely agree with your concern. I a convinced that this one of the most important questions in our world. the quality of life cannot be equalized to the big cities and metropolis and, as we know, more often it happens the opposite: small and medium size cities do have a higher and better quatlity of life.
The issue is not easy, though. People usually move to those places where thay find (ot hey think they find) btter opportunities for their lives. The serious problem is that increasingly publicity and marketing make people believe that they need what they truly do not need. Publicity, adds, and the like create artificial needs and wants. And traditionally those wants and needs are assocated wit the type of life of the big cities: hyper-cnsummerism, crowding, etc.
One key aspect is focusing on the real and not artificial needs and wants of people - and smaller cities are far better in this concern. A slower life, anature-friendly life peace, cam, and many other similar things along with good public health services, education, and the lke.
Luckily, the internet and the facilities from the top technologies (mobile phones, etc.) can help being "close" enough t other more crowded places, whilst you emjoy a far better life in small and medium size cities.
I agree with Carlos, yet there are many and increasing numbers of people who live in metropolitan areas who wish a higher quality of life (total, not just material), and are looking for this in smaller towns and villages. This condition seems most pronounced in North America (compared to western Europe in particular). Please see the literature on "amenity migration". Then, I suggest 1st you objectively review and assess the attributes of your town and surrounding bioregion for quality-of-live positives and negatives (develop a weighed inventory). To what degree do you qualify as a desirable place to live for present metropolitan dwellers, and what metropolitan residents? Then, what must you do to reduce the negatives and how and when can you afford it? At the SAME time, what type of new residents (economically active and what economic activities, retirees, semi-retirees, multi-dwelling owners, age cohorts) do you wish to attract? Subsequently, with both information sets formulate a strategy and program for attracting those you wish, whiledissuading those you do not prefer as new residents.
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