????橘子縣的經(jīng)驗證明，經(jīng)濟增長對于任何復(fù)蘇來說都必不可少。當?shù)剡x民拒絕提高稅率，但光是增長創(chuàng)造的稅收就足以挽回橘子縣在破產(chǎn)時失去的那些市政工作機會。

????住房價格強勁上漲也提高了橘子縣的稅收。加州房地產(chǎn)經(jīng)紀人協(xié)會（California Association of Realtors）提供的數(shù)據(jù)顯示，破產(chǎn)后的五年（1994-1999年）中，橘子縣獨棟住宅的平均價格上漲了75%。

????底特律市中心遍布破敗的棄置房屋，給房地產(chǎn)稅收帶來了負面影響，因此復(fù)蘇政策的重點應(yīng)該放在讓人們住進這些房屋。減少棄置房屋數(shù)量對房地產(chǎn)稅收來說具有雙重好處。不僅新業(yè)主要納稅，他們?nèi)胱『笾苓叿康禺a(chǎn)的價值也會上升。畢竟，沒有人愿意跟一所空房子當鄰居。

克利夫蘭：重塑

????最后一種解決方案是一條政治途徑。在尋找短期幫助時，改頭換面往往能說服現(xiàn)有和潛在債權(quán)人，讓他們相信深陷困境的城市需要他們提供的生命線。1978年違約后，克利夫蘭更換了市長，它的經(jīng)驗表明這個辦法也許行得通。

????和底特律相仿，克利夫蘭在破產(chǎn)前流失了大量人口。20世紀70年代，克利夫蘭的人口數(shù)量下降了24%。再加上經(jīng)濟衰退，造成這座城市無力償還1,550萬美元（9,563.5萬元人民幣）的債務(wù)。

????這批債務(wù)的主要債權(quán)人是當?shù)氐牧毅y行。市長丹尼斯?庫西尼奇籌集資金償債的努力以失敗告終。1993年曾經(jīng)進行過一項調(diào)查，結(jié)果庫西尼奇在美國歷史上最糟糕市長中排名第七。直到喬治?沃伊諾維奇取代庫西尼奇成為市長后，這六家銀行才同意通過違約債券提供1,050萬美元（6,478.5萬元人民幣）的再融資，同時再向克利夫蘭貸款2,570萬美元（1.59萬億元人民幣）?？死蛱m最終實現(xiàn)了財政盈余，償還了債務(wù)。

????沃伊諾維奇的上任帶來了克利夫蘭迫切需要的信譽，這也是克利夫蘭得到私營企業(yè)幫助的主要原因。

????底特律的市長信譽方面存在問題——前市長夸梅?基爾帕特里克丑聞纏身，而且面臨重罪指控。現(xiàn)任市長戴夫?賓則則不會謀求連任。

????生意人邁克?達根似乎有可能在即將到來的市長選舉中勝出。他曾以改革派的姿態(tài)帶領(lǐng)瀕臨破產(chǎn)的底特律醫(yī)療中心（Detroit Medical Center）轉(zhuǎn)危為安，這也許能有效地消除債權(quán)人對底特律財政管理能力的質(zhì)疑。

????其他許多城市，甚至包括紐約這樣的中心城市，也都曾經(jīng)身臨險境但最終幸免于難。底特律也能做到這一點。但要想實現(xiàn)經(jīng)濟復(fù)蘇，底特律就要承認必須讓自身實現(xiàn)發(fā)展，二次創(chuàng)造和吸取歷史經(jīng)驗則是它復(fù)蘇的基石。（財富中文網(wǎng)）

????譯者：Charlie

????Economic growth is an intrinsic part of any recovery, as seen in Orange County. Here growth alone -- voters refused to approve any tax hikes -- generated the tax revenues necessary to restore services cut in bankruptcy.

????Strong growth in home prices also raised tax dollars for the county. In the five years after bankruptcy, from 1994 to 1999, the median price of a single-family detached home in Orange County increased 75%, according to the California Association of Realtors.

????The prevalence of blighted and abandoned buildings in Detroit's downtown is a drag on property tax revenue, and so recovery policies should focus on filling these buildings. Driving down the numbers of abandoned buildings is a double boon for property tax revenue. Not only do the new owners pay taxes, but their occupancy of the buildings also increases the value of surrounding properties. After all, no one wants to live next to an empty house.

Cleveland: Restore credibility

????The last solution is a political one. When looking for short-term help, a change of face can often persuade current and potential creditors with the reassurance they need to extend a lifeline to the beleaguered city. After its 1978 default, Cleveland's change of mayor showed how this could work.

????Like Detroit, Cleveland suffered heavy population losses in the lead-up to its bankruptcy, seeing a 24% population decline during the 1970s. That, coupled with a recession, led the city to default on debt repayments of $15.5 million.

????Six local banks held the majority of the debt. Mayor Dennis Kucinich, whom a 1993 survey later named the seventh worst mayor in American history, tried unsuccessfully to refinance the debt. It wasn't until George Voinovich replaced Kucinich as mayor that the banks agreed to refinance $10.5 million in defaulted bonds and lend the city an additional $25.7 million. Cleveland eventually produced a surplus and was able to pay its obligations.

????The entry of Voinovich brought some much-needed credibility to Cleveland and was largely the reason the city got the help it did from the private sector.

????Detroit's mayoralty suffers from its own credibility problems -- former Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick has a laundry list of scandals and felony charges attached to his name. Current Mayor Dave Bing will not run for another term.

????Businessman Mike Duggan looks likely to win the upcoming mayoral election. His history as a reformer who led the Detroit Medical Center back from the brink of bankruptcy could play well with creditors skeptical of Detroit's ability to manage its finances. Emergency manager Orr's status as a budget-savvy outsider may not hurt, either.

????Many other cities, even major ones like New York, have ventured to the brink and returned. Detroit can do the same, but its economic recovery will require an acknowledgement that the city must evolve. Reinvention and learning from history are the makings of revival.