DESCRIPTORS

lost 1.2 million job,. There is little regional variation in rates of plant closurc, nor is there any correlation between cross-regional rates of industry growth and regional rates of plant closures. However, regional variation in rates of employment gains due to start-ups can be large and is highly correlated with cross-regional differences in industry growth rates. Regions with slow growth clearly have low start-up rates and limited expansions. They do not, however, have particularly high rates of plant closings. Neither does regional economic growth seem to significantly alter the likelihood of future plant closings in a region. These data argue against industrial policy as a means of slowing the pace of workor dislocation a:1 against concession in wages, utility bills, and taxes as a strategy for retaining local jobs. Several policy options seem viable for both national policymakers and local economic development officials, including increased federal support for takeovers of closing branch plants and subsidiaries and financial and adjustment assistance for displaced workers. (Forty tables/figures are included as well as references for each chapter.) (MN) * Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made