Enterprise zones and regional development
The concept of providing targeted assistance to attract investment to regional areas is not new.Governments at all levels have used, and continue to use, a range of financial and other measuresto do just that. However, a recent proposal to establish enterprise zones goes much further.Preferential policies for economically distressed areas to maintain equality of opportunity andpromote sustainable private sector investment and jobs are its core objectives. It is an inherentlyinterventionist approach with a high price tag. But is it the solution for distressed regional communities?
