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Article Excerpt
Note: This is the third part of a series of articles on long-range economic development planning for Mississippi. The first two parts of the series recounted the history of long-range planning in Mississippi, including a plan adopted in 1987 that required a 23-member board to meet regularly to update and implement the plan. The board hasn't met in recent years, but now there are several new long-range planning efforts in the works. This article focuses on the challenges and opportunities rep resented by long-range planning, and what experts believe can be done to move the state forward economically.
What has happened to the state's long-range economic development plan adopted in 1987? While some believe there have been some accomplishments from the long-range planning process, several major factors have made it difficult to translate the plans into progress for the state.
One, a declining economy has made it difficult to meet even short-term objectives.
Two, changing the way government operates is always difficult. Some proposed changes would shift the balance of power in different state agencies, so there has been resistance to change. But it isn't just a matter of turf battles, but changing the focus of the 67 state agencies so they consider themselves part of a bigger plan rather than just accomplishing the specific mission of their agency.
Three, long-range planning in today's world economy is extremely difficult.
Dr. Marty Wiseman, director of the Stennis Institute for Government at Mississippi State University, said people in Mississippi haven't totally adapted to the new reality that Mississippi is just "a tiny decimal" in the world economy now.
"There was a time when what was happening in the world economy didn't make a lot of difference," Wiseman said. "If we could control things within our borders, we could somewhat affect what the economy did for us."
Wiseman recalls 20 years ago talking to a soybean farmer who was withholding his soybeans from the market to affect the price. Today, such a tactic would have no impact on the market because soybeans grown everywhere else in the world affect the price of soybeans grown in Mississippi.
"We have to understand the national and world economy has a lot of say about how things are going to go in Mississippi, and has a lot to say about how we can affect our own destiny," Wiseman said. "When the...
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