In his compelling follow-up to The Rise of the Creative Class, Richard Florida outlines how certain cities succeed
in attracting members of the "creative class"--the millions of people who work in information-age economic
sectors and in industries driven by innovation and talent. Cities that succeed, Florida argues, are those that
are able to attract and retain creative class members. They don't do this through the traditional strategies of
tax incentives, suburban housing developments, and loose regulation, though; creative class members don't care
about those details. Rather, they care about amenities and tolerance, and are drawn to cities with thriving bohemias
and large gay populations. It is no coincidence, Florida asserts, that places likes Austin and San Francisco with
their highly publicized open-mindedness and bohemia are at the forefront of the new economy, while cities like
Detroit, in contrast, can't succeed unless they actively become a magnet for the creative class.
To prove his point, Florida presents a mass of information on the cities he cites, both thriving and failing cities,
including gay and bohemian indices. Focusing on the economic geography of place, Florida explains lays out what
cities need to do to have a chance at success.
Table of Contents
Acknowledgements
Chapter 1: The Creative Capital Theory
Part I: The People Economy
Chapter 2: Competing in the Age of Talent
Chapter 3: The Economic Geography of Talent
Part II: Creativity and Diversity
Chapter 4: Bohemia and Economic Geography
Chapter 5: Technology and Tolerance
Part III: Place and the New City
Chapter 6: Cities and the Creative Class
Chapter 7: Rebuilding Lower Manhattan for the Creative Age