The potential of community entrepreneurship for neighbourhood revitalization in the United Kingdom and the United States
Journal of Enterprising Communities: People and Places in the Global Economy
ISSN: 1750-6204
Article publication date: 10 August 2015
Abstract
Purpose
The aim of this paper is to assess the current potential of community entrepreneurship in neighbourhood revitalisation in the US and the UK. The global economic crisis has had a major impact on government spending for urban regeneration. In the context of these austerity regimes, in many European countries, community entrepreneurship and active citizenship are increasingly considered as a means to continue small-scale urban revitalisation. This paper investigates recent literature on both British community enterprises (CEs) and American community development corporations (CDCs).
Design/methodology/approach
Starting from a seminal article, this paper reviews literature focusing on the role of CEs and CDCs in neighbourhood revitalisation. Differences and similarities are analysed, taking into account national context differences.
Findings
While CDCs have a relatively successful record in affordable housing production in distressed areas, CDCs are fundamentally limited in terms of reversing processes of community decline. CEs in the UK have focused on non-housing issues.
Research limitations/implications
This paper asks the question what CEs can learn from CDCs in terms of scope, aims, strategies, accountability, assets and partnerships with public and private actors. However, a systematic literature review has not been conducted.
Originality/value
This comparison reveals not only similarities but also differences with regard to aims, organisational characteristics, cooperation on multiple scales and community participation. Apart from lessons that can be learned, this paper provides recommendations for further research that should cover the lack of empirical evidence in this field.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
This paper is the result of the research stay of David Varady as Visiting Professor at Delft University of Technology, Faculty of Architecture and the Built Environment, Department OTB, from May till July 2014. During this stay, Varady collaborated with the other authors in conducting the literature review and writing the paper. No official funding applies.
Citation
Varady, D., Kleinhans, R. and van Ham, M. (2015), "The potential of community entrepreneurship for neighbourhood revitalization in the United Kingdom and the United States", Journal of Enterprising Communities: People and Places in the Global Economy, Vol. 9 No. 3, pp. 253-276. https://doi.org/10.1108/JEC-01-2015-0009
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2015, Emerald Group Publishing Limited