NGA Identifies State Strategies for New Economy

At its winter meeting last week, the National Governors' Association (NGA) launched a new initiative to explore how states can meet the challenges of governing in the New Economy. During the next six months, NGA's Center for Best Practices will release a series of papers that focus on seven different aspects of the New Economy. A complete list of the papers included in the series can be viewed at: http://www.nga.org/Releases/PR-26Feb2000Strategies.asp

A new 50-page report, State Strategies for the New Economy, begins this series by presenting action steps to the nation’s governors from the NGA Task Force on the New Economy. The Task Force calls for changes in the way states govern, deliver services, and attract the workers and businesses driving the New Economy.

The first half of State Strategies focuses on defining the New Economy and its impact on state government. The final three chapters suggest recommendations for reengineering state government, building the state's intellectual and physical infrastructure, and reshaping the state's economic environment. These final two chapters are most relevant to state S&T policy makers in the strong emphasis on higher education, workforce training, university R&D capacity, and assistance for entrepreneurs.

A complete copy of State Strategies for the New Economy can be downloaded from the NGA website: http://www.nga.org/Pubs/IssueBriefs/2000/Strategies.asp