Corporate Citizenship and Urban Problem Solving: The Changing Civic Role of Business Leaders in American Cities

Corporate Social Responsibility, U.S. Economy, Cities, Labor Markets, Corporations

Royce Hanson, Chairman, Montgomery County Planning Board, Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission
Hal Wolman, Director, George Washington Institute of Policy Studies
David Connolly, Research Assistant, George Washington Institute of Public Policy
Katherine Pearson, United States Senator Debbie Stabenow

The Brookings Institution

E-mail

September 2006 —

Business-led civic organizations have historically played an important role in urban policymaking, planning, and renewal. However, shifting economic forces—including corporate consolidation, industrial decline, and the suburbanization of many businesses—have diminished the capacity of these organizations, potentially stripping cities of a significant advocate. This paper, along with two detailed case studies, traces the shifting landscape of business-civic organizations in 19 U.S. metropolitan areas.