"Investing in "Left Behind" Places: Learning from Native American Triba" by Robert Maxim
 

Document Type

Lecture

Publication Date

4-2-2025

Publisher

Brookings Mountain West

First page number:

1

Last page number:

40

Abstract

As part of the Brookings Scholar Lecture Series, Brookings Mountain West presents a lecture titled, "Investing in 'Left Behind' Places: Learning from Native American Tribal Communities" by Brookings fellow in Brookings Metro, Robert Maxim.

Over the past decade, U.S. political and economic discourse has centered on helping “left behind” places. The federal government joined this conversation, emphasizing everything from tariffs and trade protectionism to revitalize domestic industry, to landmark industrial policy bills aimed at pouring new federal investment into lagging places. Native American tribes can serve as an important case study for understanding how federal, state, and local policies can enhance place-based economic development in historically marginalized communities. There are perhaps no more “place-based” people than Indigenous people—the definition of Indigenous is rooted in a people’s connection to place, and tribal sovereignty is frequently defined in terms of legally prescribed boundaries. This lecture explores successes and barriers for Native American communities in engaging with recent federal, state, and other large-scale economic investments, and offers policy recommendations for supporting Tribes; other historically underinvested communities, including minority communities; as well as localities, metros, and regions.

Keywords

Indigenous; American Indian; Alaska Native; Tribe; Industrial

Disciplines

Economic Policy | Economics | Public Affairs | Sociology

File Format

pdf

File Size

3 MB

Streaming Media

Language

English


Share

COinS