ABSTRACTThis paper reports on a study of the issue relationships and priorities used by public officials in making local economic‐development policy decisions. Economic success criteria for evaluating distressed areas were compared and were found to vary in importance among officials. Policy bases of expert judges were determined. Their differences, as well as the implications of including this type of knowledge in the decision‐making process, are discussed. Recommendations for a more detailed understanding of the public‐policy decision process in economic development, through the use of a policy‐capture approach, a