| Abstract: | Experience with five funded and three unfunded state and local-government research projects involving transportation, land use, and community planning problems reveal that state and local government agencies are usually understaffed and cannot divert resources from immediate needs. A major need is for data and analysis to satisfy short-term responsibilities. In-house staff and consultant companies can best fill this need. Information and analysis for the intermediate and long run can best be developed by the universities because of better-quality research at low costs. Such applied research opportunities at the local and state levels should be sought by geographers. Research of this kind is becoming more accepted vis-á-vis the goals and reward system of the university community. |
