Vox Civitatis the New Colonist weblog
04/14/2005: "The Flight of the Creative Class"
My new copy of The Flight of the Creative Class by Richard Florida arrived in the mail today. I really think this guy is to the 2000's what Jane Jacobs was to the 60s and 70s. If you thought of the "creative class" as an elitist term, a central premise in the new book is that every human being has creative potential and wants to explore that creativity, and allowing that creative energy to be utilized will be an economic boon.
I'm only 50 pages or so into the book, and I'll provide more notes on it here and later in the form of a formal review. I would like to share one other idea at this point.
My friend Nick, a Libertarian, likes to say jobs come first. Lower taxes mean more jobs. I disagree on some levels. I know my own preference is to be where I want to be and then look for a job. Everyone out there who has moved to where they want to be or simply stayed where they are would seem to support my notion, as does Florida. For people, places matter.
"Real places provide the thick labor markets that match people to jobs, the mating markets that enable people to find life partners, the social markets that beget friendships, the amenities that allow people to pursue the lifestyles they wish, and the smorgasbord of daily choices that encourage people to construct and validate their identities holistically."
On Monday, April 18th, MJ Taylor said:
Hi Eric,
As a libertarian myself, I'd premise that both you and your friend are correct. For people, places do matter, but the 'good' places that people wish to be in are first created from things like low taxes and societal tolerance.
As an example, we here in Austin may currently be at the top of Dr. Florida's 'creative' city list, but it is being rapidly destroyed by higher (and skimmed to special interests) taxes and majority vote societal intolerance.
M.J. Taylor
Editor
from Reason to Freedom
Book Review:
The Rise of the Creative Class
Hi Eric,
As a libertarian myself, I'd premise that both you and your friend are correct. For people, places do matter, but the 'good' places that people wish to be in are first created from things like low taxes and societal tolerance.
As an example, we here in Austin may currently be at the top of Dr. Florida's 'creative' city list, but it is being rapidly destroyed by higher (and skimmed to special interests) taxes and majority vote societal intolerance.
M.J. Taylor
Editor
from Reason to Freedom
Book Review:
The Rise of the Creative Class
On Monday, April 18th, MJ Taylor said:
Hi Eric,
As a libertarian myself, I'd premise that both you and your friend are correct. For people, places do matter, but the 'good' places that people wish to be in are first created from things like low taxes and societal tolerance.
As an example, we here in Austin may currently be at the top of Dr. Florida's 'creative' city list, but it is being rapidly destroyed by higher (and skimmed to special interests) taxes and majority vote societal intolerance.
M.J. Taylor
Editor
from Reason to Freedom
Book Review:
The Rise of the Creative Class
Hi Eric,
As a libertarian myself, I'd premise that both you and your friend are correct. For people, places do matter, but the 'good' places that people wish to be in are first created from things like low taxes and societal tolerance.
As an example, we here in Austin may currently be at the top of Dr. Florida's 'creative' city list, but it is being rapidly destroyed by higher (and skimmed to special interests) taxes and majority vote societal intolerance.
M.J. Taylor
Editor
from Reason to Freedom
Book Review:
The Rise of the Creative Class
On Monday, April 25th, Mike Izsak said:
Places matter to an extent, but I've known many, many Pittsburghers who have left the city - not because they didn't like it here, but because they couldn't find a job here. When Pittsburgh was the "in" place to be 75 years ago or so, it was because of all the jobs in the mills - thats what attracted residents (including my grandparents) not the presence of a hip music scene or cool coffee houses - that comes later.
Places matter to an extent, but I've known many, many Pittsburghers who have left the city - not because they didn't like it here, but because they couldn't find a job here. When Pittsburgh was the "in" place to be 75 years ago or so, it was because of all the jobs in the mills - thats what attracted residents (including my grandparents) not the presence of a hip music scene or cool coffee houses - that comes later.