Amenities and Community Economic Development: Strategies for Sustainability 1

Amenities and Community Economic Development: Strategies for Sustainability

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Amenities and Community Economic Development: Strategies for Sustainability 2

Amenities and Community Economic Development: Strategies for Sustainability

Purpose and Ideas

This article focuses on the sustainability of the available amenities and resources such

as forestry, agriculture, mining, and fishing which are important in the economic

development of the American community. The article focus on seven ideas: socioeconomic

wellbeing in rural America, economic and social restructuring in rural America, defining

amenities, amenities, and development, implications of amenity-led development for

sustainability, research issues, and the policy issues (Albrecht, 2004). Concerning the socio-

economic well-being in rural America, there have been high unemployment rates, poverty

rates, and lower incomes in the rural areas of America as compared to the metropolitan areas.

The growth of some rural areas was attributed to the retirees who were looking for social

amenities away from the city that is affordable to them. The economic and social

restructuring in rural areas brought economic changes whereby there was a loss of

manufacturing jobs while service jobs were growing. The amenities defined in the article for

use by individuals have different characteristics. One of them is non-productibility which

means that the amenity is restricted to a certain territory. The other is irreversibility which

means that it is not easy to restore the value of the amenity once it has been destroyed.

Thirdly, the amenities are positively and strongly correlated. Due to these the amenities are

important for the development of the economy of the community. To the article, amenities

are important in the development of a community and depend on the location of a firm an

exception being the educational amenities. Through literature review, it has been evident in

the article that the relationship between amenities and poverty rates or income inequality is

very weak but the relationship is much stronger and positive for income growth (Albrecht,

2004). The article, therefore, shows the benefits of amenities in the economic development of

the community. The ideas from the study suggest that amenity-led strategies can address the
Amenities and Community Economic Development: Strategies for Sustainability 3

issues of poverty, underemployment, and high levels of inequality. In addition, several

studies from the article suggest that urban areas show that the growth machine is supporting

museums, and sports teams while the rural areas structure their development around the

amenities and this has proved to be problematic to the rural areas. Policy issues have also

been handled in the article in the manner that the people in the rural areas have been urged to

consider the environment and natural resources as an amenity rather than a resource to extract

for the external market. The policies to conserve the natural resources have been put in place

and those advocating for the reduction of inequality in the rural and urban areas.

Strengths of the article

The article has depended on the literature review of other authors and this has

provided the data that is necessary for a conclusive statement on whether amenities are

important for community development. In addition, there is no duplication of the information

in the article and the writing is articulate and efficient and this provides the easy

understanding ability to the readers. The analysis from the article is reliable and it makes the

article credible. The article either way has been intense on the conservation of the natural

resources and has urged the communities not to view the environment as an extraction area

but it should be used in a manageable manner. The article has increased my knowledge of the

contribution of amenities to the economic development of rural America. The ideas in the

article are clear and more specific to the American community.

Weaknesses of the article

The article lacks an in-depth analysis of the projections of what could be the situation

in the future. It only focuses on what is happening in the American community and this

makes it only customized for the region as it can not be used for other areas. The article also

lacks a well-formulated thesis as it is too broad to be understood by the reader. The article is
Amenities and Community Economic Development: Strategies for Sustainability 4

also not organized logically and lacks a conclusion that summarizes the article. The article

also does not relate its strengths and weaknesses nor can there be a visible part to pinpoint its

strengths.

Conclusion

From the above, I have dissected issues for the article as I have mentioned the

relationship between the amenities and economic development of the communities in the

rural areas and the urban areas. I have mentioned key ideas in the article which include the

social well-being in the rural areas, the economic and social restructuring in rural areas of

America, the characteristics of amenities, and how the amenities contribute to the

development of the community. Lastly, I have outlined the implications of amenity-led

development and the research and policy issues that are necessary for ensuring that amenities

achieve the goal of economic development of urban and rural America.

Amenities and Community Economic Development: Strategies for Sustainability 5

References

Albrecht, D. (2004). Amenities, Natural Resources, Economic Restructuring, and

Socioeconomic Outcomes in Nonmetropolitan America. Community Development Society.

Journal, 35(2), 36-52. https://doi.org/10.1080/15575330409490131