Mr Porter's ''competitive advantage'' for inner-city revitalization: Exploitation or empowerment?

Michael Porter has oversimplified the approach to successful economic development in the inner city. Following a discussion of ambiguities and questionable assumptions in his model, an alternative, business school initiated and managed strategy is presented, which seeks to: 1) build capacity for business development and job creation by providing aspiring and nascent inner-city entrepreneurs and community development practitioners with basic and advanced training in the nuts and bolts of sound business practices; 2) rebuild human capital through customized job training programs; and 3) reduce drug and crime problems through a new generation of social resource programs designed To mend the social fabric of the inner city.