Economic Development Quarterly

As part of a broader project focused on gender in economic development, this research uses interview data collected in 2024 and 2025 to understand the role that women play in the practice of economic development and to consider whether contributions of women working in the field of economic development have changed the practice and perception of the field. The findings underscore the importance of addressing gender and other disparities in the field of economic development and note that such efforts will require purposeful recruitment and mentoring, as well as the creation of inclusive workplace environments. Shifts in the demographics of the field demonstrate increased diversity and increased attention to equity as well as the care economy. However, ongoing structural biases and the encumbrance of cultural taxation suggest the need for increased institutional supports and the cultivation of emerging leaders from diverse backgrounds.

This paper estimates annual upward and downward occupational mobility rates in the United States between 2018 and 2024. The authors find that only 6.6% of workers in the lowest-quality occupations moved into higher-quality occupations. Conversely, 8.0% of workers in middle-quality occupations moved into lower-quality occupations. To capture trends, the authors estimate annual mobility rates from 2011 onward and find increasing downward mobility through 2018 and increasing upward mobility through 2019. In both series, higher variability was found but little change comparing 2018 and 2024. The authors use multinomial logit regressions to estimate individual characteristics associated with upward and downward occupational mobility. Higher levels of education and younger age are associated with increased transitions to higher-quality occupations and reduced downward occupational transitions. The authors find mixed results for race, ethnicity, and gender, with results suggesting the importance of human capital investments and other interventions that promote upward mobility and may prevent downward mobility.

Digital technologies are reshaping the geography of entrepreneurship, expanding opportunities for business formation beyond traditional tech hubs. Yet, spatial gaps in digital entrepreneurship persist, particularly in low- and moderate-income communities. Using geolocated data on Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) investments and commercial domain registrations, this study examines how local use of flexible grant funds supports digital entrepreneurship in targeted ZIP codes. The analysis finds that CDBG investments in areas with robust broadband adoption are positively associated with digital entrepreneurial activity. The results further suggest that the type of investment matters, with varying associations for activities relating to infrastructure, public services, and business services. These findings contribute to research on place-based policies and inclusive economic development in the digital age.