Synopses & Reviews
The most valued workers today are what the economist Richard Florida calls the Creative Class, skilled individuals ranging from money managers to make–up artists, software programmers to steady–cam operators who are in constant demand around the world. Florida's bestselling The Rise of the Creative Class identified these workers as the source of economic revitalization in American cities. In that book, he shows that investment in technology and a civic culture of tolerance (most–often marked by the presence of a large gay community) are the key ingredients to attracting and maintaining a local creative class. In The Flight of the Creative Class, Florida expands his research to cover the global competition to attract the Creative Class. The United States was, up until 2002, the unparalleled leader in creative capital. But several key events––the Bush administrations emphasis on smokestack industries, heightened security concerns after 9/11 and the growing cultural divide between conservatives and liberals––have put the US at a substantial dis–advantage.
Review
“A compelling and seductive thesis.” BusinessWeek
Review
“Required reading for elected officials, policy makers, educators, business leaders and every citizen concerned about the future of this country.” Alan M. Webber, Founding Editor, Fast Company magazine
Review
“Policy makers and independent professionals alike must quickly take Floridas argument aboard--and, just as quickly, act.” Tom Peters
Synopsis
The most valued workers today are what economist Richard Florida calls the creative class—skilled individuals ranging from money managers to makeup artists, software programmers to steadicam operators. These workers are in constant demand around the world. Florida argues that this demand means that, for the first time ever, the United States is truly in danger of losing its most crucial economic advantage—its status as the world's greatest talent magnet.
The Flight of the Creative Class explores this global competition to attract these skilled workers and shows how several key events have put the United States at a substantial disadvantage just as smaller countries have discovered the enormous economic value of creative capital and are doing everything in their power to attract these workers. Florida outlines the causes and potentially disastrous effects of this growing migration, and discusses the ways in which the U.S. can make itself more attractive to its creative workers—ways that other countries may discover first.
Synopsis
The most valued workers are what economist Florida calls the "creative class," and up until 2002 the United States was the unparalleled leader in creative capital. But several key events-the Bush administration's emphasis on smokestack industries, post-9/11 heightened security concerns, and the growing political divide between parties-have put the nation at a substantial disadvantage. Numerous countries have discovered the enormous economic value of the creative class and are attracting these valuable workers.
"The movement of human capital, particularly the most creative and talented, from nation to nation is critically important to understanding why the future of some countries is assured and that of others doomed. A first-rate piece of work."
-Carl Schramm, president and CEO of the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation
--BusinessWeek
About the Author
Author of the bestselling The Rise of the Creative Class and Who's Your City? Richard Florida is a regular columnist for The Atlantic. He has written for the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, The Economist, and other publications. His multiple awards and accolades include the Harvard Business Review's Breakthrough Idea of the Year. He was named one of Esquire magazine's Best and Brightest (2005) and one of BusinessWeek's Voices of Innovation (2006). He lives in Toronto, Canada.