When people talk about economics, they usually focus on markets, prices, increased economic activity and formal transactions.  But there’s an entire layer of economic activity happening outside our front doors that is embedded in everyday neighborly relationships. It’s informal, often unmeasured, but deeply impactful. I was doing some research on the economic value of being an engaged neighbor. You can read what I discovered in an upcoming blog post. But while researching, I asked a question in an online community I participate in ( The Community Building Hub ) and got a response from my neighboring colleague in Columbus, Ohio, Chet Ridenour.  His perspective sent me in an entirely new direction. As Chet wrote: " In my experiences from trying to be a good neighbor, I can point to numerous examples of neighboring support that we could practically provide a tangible, economic value to."  I thought it was brilliant.  Chet noted that while it may be difficult for ...

Every community talks about economic development. Cities pursue new businesses. Chambers promote job growth. Local leaders work to attract investment. But what if one of the most important drivers of a thriving local economy isn’t a tax incentive, a marketing campaign, or a new industrial park? What if it’s something much closer to home?  What if it’s neighbors knowing neighbors ? A framework called the Gearbox Framework offers a helpful way to understand how local economies grow—and it also reveals something important about the role of neighboring. You Can’t Start in Fourth Gear The Gearbox Framework compares economic development to driving a car with manual transmission. Communities move through four gears: People Place Local Business Cultivation Smart Recruitment Each gear builds on the previous one. The framework emphasizes that communities often make a mistake: they try to jump directly into fourth gear—business recruitment—before the earlier gears are working well. The frame...