Richard Florida
Richard Florida (1957, Newark NJ) is an American economist and urban studies theorist.
Professor Florida's focus is on social and economic theory. He is currently a professor and head of the Prosperity Institute at the Rotman School of Management and the MaRS Discovery District, at the University of Toronto. [1] He also heads a private "Creative Class" Institute.
Prof. Florida received a PhD from Columbia University in 1986. Prior to joining George Mason (2005-2007), he taught at Carnegie Mellon University's Heinz School from 1987 to 2005.
Research and theories
He is best known for his work in developing his concept of the creative class, and its ramifications in urban regeneration. This research was expressed in Florida's bestselling book The Rise of the Creative Class, Cities and the Creative Class, and The Flight of the Creative Class. A new book, focusing on the issues surrounding urban renewal and talent migration, titled Who's Your City?, is currently in development.
Prof. Florida's theory asserts that metropolitan regions with high concentrations of high-tech workers, artists, musicians, gay men, and a group he describes as "high bohemians", correlate with a higher level of economic development. Florida posits the theory that the creative class fosters an open, dynamic, personal and professional environment. This environment, in turn, attracts more creative people, as well as businesses and capital. He suggests that attracting and retaining high-quality talent, versus a singular focus on infrastructure projects such as sports stadiums, iconic buildings, and shopping centers, would be a better primary use of a city's regeneration resources for long-term prosperity.
He has devised his own ranking systems that rate cities by a "Bohemian index," a "Gay index," a "diversity index" and similar criteria.
Criticism and controversy
Florida's theories are the source of both praise and controversy. Florida has been attacked by people with a variety of political perspectives, and by both academics and journalists. His theories have been criticized as being elitist, and his data has been questioned. [2]
His ideas have also proved to be influential on those heading regeneration in cities in North America and Europe. Proponents of Florida's theory point to the rise of the creative class in booming urban centers and a visibility in "creative class" industry. [citation needed]
Researchers have critiqued Florida's work for shortcomings in its methodology. Terry Nichols Clark (University of Chicago) has used Florida's own data-sets to question the much-touted correlation between the presence of significant numbers of gay men in a city and the presence of high-technology knowledge industries. [citation needed]
Critics have questioned Prof. Florida's empirical evidence, suggesting his observed correlations may be spurious, overly simplistic, or even that the official standard occupational classification system data-sets he uses may be questionable. Florida has replied, at length, to many of his critics. [citation needed]
Florida's first book, The Rise of the Creative Class (which was followed by a 'prequel', that provided more in-depth data to support his findings, Cities and the Creative Class) came at the tail of the dot-com boom. Some critics have said that the conditions it describes may no longer exist. However, with the rise of Google, the juggernauts of Web 2.0, and the constant call from business leaders (often seen in publications such as Business 2.0) for a more creative, as well as skilled, workforce, his supporters state that one can easily perceive the contemporary relevance of Florida's research. [citation needed]
In his sequel book, The Flight of the Creative Class, Florida argues that the health and growth of the U.S. "creative class" is threatened because potential immigrants to the United States cannot easily obtain entry-permits post 9/11. He also cites an alleged rise in prejudice and bigotry in parts of the USA, after the 2004 re-election of George W. Bush. [citation needed]
Partial bibliography
- Florida, Richard (2005). The Flight of the Creative Class. The New Global Competition for Talent. HarperBusiness, HarperCollins. ISBN 0060756918.
- Florida, Richard (2005). Cities and the Creative Class. Routledge. ISBN 0415948878.
- Florida, Richard (2002). The Rise of the Creative Class. And How It's Transforming Work, Leisure and Everyday Life. Basic Books. ISBN 0465024777.
- Branscomb, Lewis & Kodama, Fumio & Florida, Richard (1999). Industrializing Knowledge: University-Industry Linkages in Japan and the United States. MIT Press. ISBN 0262024659.
- Kenny, Martin & Florida, Richard (1993). Beyond Mass Production: The Japanese System and Its Transfer to the US. Oxford University Press. ISBN 0195071107.
- Florida, Richard (1990). The Breakthrough Illusion. Corporate America's Failure to Move from Innovation to Mass Production. Basic Books. ISBN 0465007600.
Critical articles on Florida
- Terry Nichols Clarke, "Urban Amenities: Lakes, Opera, and Juice Bars" (2002).
- Steven Malanga, "The Curse of the Creative Class".
- Joel Kotkin, "The Capital of What?".
- Ann Daly, "Richard Florida's High-Class Glasses"
- Steve Sailer, "Brookings Does Diversity, Sort Of"
- Peck, Jamie. 2005. "Struggling with the Creative Class," International Journal of Urban and Rural Research 29,4: 740-770.
See also
External links
- Florida's web-site for The Rise of the Creative Class. The first chapter is available free.
- Critique by Kevin Griffis in CreativeLoafing.com
- Unwired: Prepare for the next generation
- Centre of Excellence for Creative Industries and Innovation
- The Importance of Foreign-born Scientists and Engineers to the Security of The United States: A Congressional Report, submitted by the National Academy of Engineering
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