The Houston Growth Coalition In “Boom” and “Bust”

ABSTRACT: Although growth machine theory emphasizes the coalition's tactics and organization, it neglects adjustment to changing economic conditions. This article explores the changes in the strategy and organization of Houston's growth coalition during the peak growth of the 1970s and the decline of the 1980s. During the boom, the coalition focused not on additional growth but on easing the city's infrastructure problems. The coalition underwent several major changes during decline as it struggled to compete aggressively with other cities for various enterprises and to devise strategies for diversifying the economy. A growth coalition has the opportunity to establish the economic basis for future growth when the city's dominant industries reach maturity and decline.     

Rissbreitenberechnung bei “Kombibewehrung”

Crack Width Limitation for Combined Reinforcement In recent years, steel fibre concrete has more and more found a wide spread application in structural engineering. This applies to building members made from steel fibre concrete or in combination with normal re‐bar reinforcement (combined reinforcement). In this context the question of crack width limitation very often has to be answered, and the interaction of the steel fibres with the rebars has to be observed. Some design rules are available in the relevant literature, whereas the design rules for a combined reinforcement use the basics of DIN 1045‐1. This paper deals with the applicability of these design proposals for a combined reinforcement, based on research results and some characteristics in the design consideration of the post‐cracking tensile strength of steel fibre concrete will be given.     

Belastungsversuche an “Siegwartdecken”

Stress Tests on “Siegwart” Ceilings. Two buildings in the Austrian District (Österreichviertel) of Dessau will currently be modernised and renovated. Fitted, hollow beams according to “Siegwart” were used as ceilings in the masonry buildings erected in 1939/1940. Separating cracks in almost all rooms impede the interaction between the neighbouring beams, so that a suitable calculated evidence of the load bearing capacity and appropriateness for use was not providable. This was achieved by using stress tests and comparative calculations.     

THE “ENTREPRENEURIAL STATE” IN “CREATIVE INDUSTRY CLUSTER” DEVELOPMENT IN SHANGHAI

ABSTRACT: Literature on China's urban development discusses the nature and role of the local state. A set of concepts have been proposed, such as the “entrepreneurial state” (ES) and “local developmental state,” and an ongoing debate attempts to ascertain whether the state is “entrepreneurial” in nature. This article uses a newly emerged urban phenomenon, chuangyi chanye jiju qu (CCJQs) or “creative industry clusters,” in which the central government is not involved, to explore the nature of local governments, their role in urban development, and the ways in which they perform this role. Both qualitative and quantitative research methods are used. The findings of this research reveal a strong revenue‐oriented nature of local governments, highlighting the “entrepreneurial state” as an important dimension in their character: they transform spontaneously emerged urban cultural spaces into a new mechanism generating revenues for both urban growth and their own economic benefit. Local governments promote CCJQ development with place promotion strategies, and they are directly involved in CCJQ‐related businesses as market players rather than as independent bodies that effectively control and regulate the CCJQ market through policies and regulations. Further, this article reveals a “public–public” coalition as an important mechanism for local state participation.