Lessons from History

We’ve all seen them: communities along the Lake Erie shoreline that once played host to thriving industrial and manufacturing businesses, but have fallen on hard times as those industries move away. Many Lake Erie cities are now trying to take advantage of their location on the shoreline to attract visitors, focusing on tourism as the major industry in town. But some economists worry that switching from one exclusive industry focus – manufacturing – to another – tourism – could lead to the same problems as before if tourism becomes negatively affected.