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The Growth Lab's "Development Talks" is a series of conversations with policymakers and academics working on economic growth and development in countries, regions, states and cities in the US and around the world. The seminar provides a platform for practitioners and researchers to discuss both economic growth and development and analytical work centered on policy. This event is co-sponsored with the Taubman Center for State & Local Government.
Speaker: Christian Gibbons, founder of the National Center for Economic Gardening (NCEG) and creator of “Economic Gardening,” an entrepreneurial approach to economic development.
Moderator: Lara Gale, Economic Development Program Manager, Taubman Center for State & Local Government.
This session will be an interactive discussion of capitalism’ conundrum and the role of Economic Gardening- an entrepreneurial, grow-your-own approach to economic development. Economic Gardening is based in part on the science of complex adaptive systems, systems theory and Stage 2 companies with a focus on commodity traps.
Whether attending in-person or virtually, please register in advance. Room attendance is limited to the Harvard community. Seating availability is based on a first-come, first-served basis. Lunch will be provided. The Zoom webinar is open to the public.
Speaker Bio: Chris Gibbons is the founder of the National Center for Economic Gardening (NCEG). He is the creator of “Economic Gardening,” an entrepreneurial approach to economic development. The program, created in Littleton CO in 1987, is widely regarded as introducing the first entrepreneurial element into economic development. It is a major strategy used in many economic development programs today.
From the period 1990 to 2010 the number of jobs in Littleton doubled from 15,000 to 30,000 and sales tax revenues more than tripled from $6 to $21 million. The city did not recruit one business during this period, nor did it offer one cent in incentives or tax rebates. The NCEG was created in 2012 to assist communities across the country to start and operate Economic Gardening programs.