Civic Engagement and Fiscal Stress in American Cities

Abstract

The Great Recession had a major effect on the provision of local public services. This article examines civic engagement before, during, and after the Great Recession using data from State of the Profession surveys sponsored by the International City/County Management Association. This study finds that cities increased their use of technology to inform citizens during the recession, but there were declines in the use of citizen surveys and strategic plans. The cities that were most impacted by the downturn had greater support for civic engagement activities in the aftermath of the Great Recession. The results indicate that fiscal stress impacts civic engagement in complex ways.