Making an Impact

November 9, 2015

Economics are the method; the object is to change the soul.
-Margaret Thatcher

The global economy is difficult, if not impossible, to mold or control. Individual countries, even giants like the U.S. and China, have a very limited ability to shape or manage it, and powerful individuals can’t control everything. Presidents, prime ministers and financiers can do little make major changes.

The first reason is that the economy is enormous. By recent estimates the U.S. economy alone is over 20 percent of the world’s GDP at an estimated $18 trillion dollars.

Second, the economy is complex. We were reminded just how complex last week when the text of 6,000 page Trans-Pacific Partnership was made public.

Third, there are no magic bullets. No one thing should get the credit or the blame for the level of dynamism or sustainability seen in the economy’s performance.

However, there are things that can be done, especially at the state and local level.

Public and private leaders, from neighborhoods to board rooms and from pulpits and podiums, can push people beyond what they imagine for themselves and build hope and confidence in people. And good followers are not blind ones who do not question, but those who are open to new approaches and choose to move forward when what is over the horizon is uncertain.

Kenny McDonald

One Columbus Update

  • Congratulations to Sofidel and Circleville! The Italian manufacturer has announced plans for a 1.4 million square foot facility. Successful collaboration between the Pickaway Progress Partnership, One Columbus, JobsOhio and SelectUSA was a driving force in Sofidel’s attraction to the Columbus Region.
  • This week, the One Columbus team is meeting with companies in Dallas. Next week, we’ll head to China for a weeklong business development mission.
  • Back at home, our team is hosting several companies considering the Columbus Region. We’ll also attend the Columbus Region Logistics Council’s State of Central Ohio Logistics: Transportation Forecast 2016 and the Central Ohio NAIOP Annual Awards Gala.