Two members of the Maryland Department of Planning weigh in on a recent article in the New York Times titled, “Why D.C. Is Doing So Well“
David Whitaker: Something similar occurred in the D.C. area during the recession of the early 1980s when the federal government under President Reagan cut spending drastically. Nearly two years of significant unemployment followed in the region. But the private sector went into overdrive hiring a highly educated work force. By the mid- to late-1980’s, the D.C. region was among the most successful in the country, leading to a building boom that gave the planning profession the term “Edge Cities.” The growth of D.C.’s extensive Metro system helped, too.
Mark Goldstein: I think the Washington region’s rebound from the two recessions in the early 1980’s was due in large part to its gaining a disproportionate share of the enormous increase in federal spending instituted by President Reagan, particularly in defense. By contrast, the early 1990’s “reinvention” of government under President Clinton reduced the federal workforce but wasn’t accompanied by an increase in private sector funding. As a result, the Washington region did suffer more from the early 1990’s recession (see chart) than did the nation as a whole.
Leave a comment