Facebook is dying at Pacific Standard magazine.
Theme: War for talent.
Subject Article: "More than 100 Chicago tech execs sign letter urging immigration reform: State's GOP delegation told of need for foreign engineers, scientists."
Other Links: 1."Offshore firms took 50% of H-1B visas in 2013: Government data shows who is really using the visas."
2."The STEM Talent Shortage Debate."
3."Talent Is the New Oil: OPEC of Tech."
4."The Price of Panic."
5."Tech Talent Recruiting Geography."
Postscript: I could go back and forth forever about the relationship between the skills gap and immigration policy. I'm in favor of dramatically increasing the supply of foreign born labor in the United States. Migration is economic development. I'm not writing about the war for talent from a policy perspective. I'm trying to figure out if the Innovation Economy has peaked and begun converging (i.e. geographically diffusing). The primary point of contention concerns labor costs. When an economy is diverging (i.e. geographically concentrating in a few places), employers can afford dramatic increases in wages. When wages become an overriding concern, businesses should seek out geographic arbitrage opportunities. To date, tech companies have done everything but change address. Today, April Fool's Day, is a day of reckoning.
Tuesday, April 01, 2014
Monday, March 31, 2014
Los Angeles Is Beginning to Look a Lot Like Pittsburgh
Peak immigration to Los Angeles at Pacific Standard magazine.
Theme: Ironic demographics.
Subject Article: "The Generational Future of Los Angeles: Projections to 2030 and Comparisons to Recent Decades."
Other Links: 1. "The International Trade of Talent."
2. "Post comment on 'The International Trade of Talent.'"
3. "Seasonally Adjested (Before 2000: CWIA, Since 2000: BLS) Pittsburgh MSA Labor Forde - Monthly January 1970 to September 2012."
4. "Not voting with their feet."
5. "Hell With the Lid Taken Off."
Postscript: What if a region's baseline "normal" is an aberration? Compared to the 1980s, the demographic decline of Los Angeles looks dramatic. Over the long haul, there isn't a reason to panic. Whatever your perspective, more and more places are going down the same demographic path Pittsburgh forged over the last century. Demographic decline is the new normal.
Theme: Ironic demographics.
Subject Article: "The Generational Future of Los Angeles: Projections to 2030 and Comparisons to Recent Decades."
Other Links: 1. "The International Trade of Talent."
2. "Post comment on 'The International Trade of Talent.'"
3. "Seasonally Adjested (Before 2000: CWIA, Since 2000: BLS) Pittsburgh MSA Labor Forde - Monthly January 1970 to September 2012."
4. "Not voting with their feet."
5. "Hell With the Lid Taken Off."
Postscript: What if a region's baseline "normal" is an aberration? Compared to the 1980s, the demographic decline of Los Angeles looks dramatic. Over the long haul, there isn't a reason to panic. Whatever your perspective, more and more places are going down the same demographic path Pittsburgh forged over the last century. Demographic decline is the new normal.
Thursday, March 27, 2014
The International Trade of Talent
Net migration and international trade balance don't matter at Pacific Standard magazine.
Theme: Ironic demographics.
Subject Article: "(Mis)leading Indicators: Why Our Economic Numbers Distort Reality."
Other Links: 1. "Peak Talent."
2. "Brain Drain or ‘Outward Mobility’?"
3. "Border Guard Bob Says, ‘Pittsburgh Is Dying’."
4. "The Diaspora Report: 'Come to Sunny Pittsburgh!' OK, it's a stretch. But we can try."
5. "Diverging Demography of Baltimore and Africa."
6. "Exposing inadequacies in emigration policy."
Postscript: I really wrote the post so I could quote, “It is not possible for emigration from 21-century India to be managed under 20 century law inspired by a 19-century mindset.” Ironically, I had to force it in there given the meat of the Foreign Policy article. Given a chance to sleep on it, I can make more sense of the marriage today. But it all really came together minutes ago on Twitter. To archive the thought, population growth is the manufacturing economic development metric of the 19th century. Educational attainment is the innovation economic development metric of the 20th century. Migration is the legacy economic metric of the 21st century. Just floating that out there for now.
Theme: Ironic demographics.
Subject Article: "(Mis)leading Indicators: Why Our Economic Numbers Distort Reality."
Other Links: 1. "Peak Talent."
2. "Brain Drain or ‘Outward Mobility’?"
3. "Border Guard Bob Says, ‘Pittsburgh Is Dying’."
4. "The Diaspora Report: 'Come to Sunny Pittsburgh!' OK, it's a stretch. But we can try."
5. "Diverging Demography of Baltimore and Africa."
6. "Exposing inadequacies in emigration policy."
Postscript: I really wrote the post so I could quote, “It is not possible for emigration from 21-century India to be managed under 20 century law inspired by a 19-century mindset.” Ironically, I had to force it in there given the meat of the Foreign Policy article. Given a chance to sleep on it, I can make more sense of the marriage today. But it all really came together minutes ago on Twitter. To archive the thought, population growth is the manufacturing economic development metric of the 19th century. Educational attainment is the innovation economic development metric of the 20th century. Migration is the legacy economic metric of the 21st century. Just floating that out there for now.
Wednesday, March 26, 2014
The STEM Talent Shortage Debate
No STEM talent shortage at Pacific Standard magazine.
Theme: War for talent.
Subject Article: "The Myth of the Myth of the Science and Engineering Shortage."
Other Links: 1. "The Myth of the Science and Engineering Shortage: American students need to improve in math and science—but not because there's a surplus of jobs in those fields."
2. "Peak Talent."
3. "Robert D. Atkinson: President Information Technology and Innovation Foundation."
Postscript: A headline from yesterday's (March 25th) The Vancouver Sun, "Mind the gap: Are you ready to compete for global talent?" The opinion piece warns about a looming "critical skills shortage" for British Columbia and all of Canada. Today's (March 26th) headline in The Vancouver Sun, "Canada is not facing labour or skills shortages: Findings question government's position that jobs are vacant due to lack of homegrown skilled employees." I'll take the word of a labor economist (latest headline) over that of The Immigrant Employment Council of British Columbia who authored the op-ed.
Theme: War for talent.
Subject Article: "The Myth of the Myth of the Science and Engineering Shortage."
Other Links: 1. "The Myth of the Science and Engineering Shortage: American students need to improve in math and science—but not because there's a surplus of jobs in those fields."
2. "Peak Talent."
3. "Robert D. Atkinson: President Information Technology and Innovation Foundation."
Postscript: A headline from yesterday's (March 25th) The Vancouver Sun, "Mind the gap: Are you ready to compete for global talent?" The opinion piece warns about a looming "critical skills shortage" for British Columbia and all of Canada. Today's (March 26th) headline in The Vancouver Sun, "Canada is not facing labour or skills shortages: Findings question government's position that jobs are vacant due to lack of homegrown skilled employees." I'll take the word of a labor economist (latest headline) over that of The Immigrant Employment Council of British Columbia who authored the op-ed.
Monday, March 24, 2014
Talent Is the New Oil: OPEC of Tech
Extending the metaphor that talent is the new oil at Pacific Standard magazine.
Theme: Demographic decline.
Subject Article: "Revealed: Apple and Google’s wage-fixing cartel involved dozens more companies, over one million employees."
Other Links: 1. "Checkmate for cheap unconventional gas: Shale reserves are not a miracle; they are a high-cost source of fuel."
2. "Work and the ‘problem of demographics.’"
3. "Peak Talent."
4. "Microsoft Vancouver responds to immigration woes: The company will open an office in Vancouver in order to retain foreign workers without being subject to H-1B restrictions."
5. "It’s the Birth Rate, Stupid."
Postscript: Presaging a forthcoming post, another problem to consider is declining geographic mobility:
Emphasis added. Silicon Valley has niche thick labor market. You can move around within the industry easily. Startup failed? No problem, plenty of other tech jobs open for you in the Bay Area. In other regional job markets, there are more opportunities for a career shift. You don't have to stay a techie in Pittsburgh.
Theme: Demographic decline.
Subject Article: "Revealed: Apple and Google’s wage-fixing cartel involved dozens more companies, over one million employees."
Other Links: 1. "Checkmate for cheap unconventional gas: Shale reserves are not a miracle; they are a high-cost source of fuel."
2. "Work and the ‘problem of demographics.’"
3. "Peak Talent."
4. "Microsoft Vancouver responds to immigration woes: The company will open an office in Vancouver in order to retain foreign workers without being subject to H-1B restrictions."
5. "It’s the Birth Rate, Stupid."
Postscript: Presaging a forthcoming post, another problem to consider is declining geographic mobility:
“There has been a large downward trend in mobility that goes back at least a few decades and (it) has been there as prices go up and down,” he said.
Schulhofer-Wohl and his research partner see a bigger factor keeping workers from moving as much: local labor markets are growing more uniform and less specialized. There aren’t very many places like Silicon Valley boasting a strong concentration of one kind of job.
“The kinds of jobs you can get and the money you can earn varies less around the country than they used to,” he said. “There’s less reason to move because of the kind of job you can get.” ...
... Even as Americans are making fewer moves between states, Sinclair’s own research suggests workers are mobile in a different way: they’re willing to move to new professions. Sinclair saw a pattern when studying use of the online job website Indeed.com.
“One of the dramatic things we’re seeing is that people are very keen to look at other occupations,” she said.
Emphasis added. Silicon Valley has niche thick labor market. You can move around within the industry easily. Startup failed? No problem, plenty of other tech jobs open for you in the Bay Area. In other regional job markets, there are more opportunities for a career shift. You don't have to stay a techie in Pittsburgh.
Friday, March 21, 2014
Peak Talent
Peak talent is the new peak oil at Pacific Standard magazine.
Theme: Demographic decline.
Subject Article: "Slumping Fertility Rates in Developing Countries Spark Labor Worries: Birthrates Fall in Thailand, Raising Concerns about Aging Population."
Other Links: 1. "Talent Is The New Oil."
2. "Shale Gas And Talent Geopolitics."
3. "Age Problem: Projected year of working-age population peak."
4. "Hong Kong Is Dying."
5. "Asia's Rise: Don't believe the hype about the decline of America and the dawn of a new Asian age. It will be many decades before China, India, and the rest of the region take over the world, if they ever do."
6. "Putin is violating a rule that was designed to prevent World War Three."
7. "Plugging China's talent pool."
8. "Can Chinese 'immigration deficit' be cut in future?"
9. "A Second American Century."
Postscript: I guess I'm hitching my wagon to the talent-is-the-new-oil metaphor. I already term places such as NYC "talent refineries". Universities are talent extractors, the energy companies. Places such as Pittsburgh are resource-rich fields where the good stuff is easy (i.e. inexpensive) to mine. The low-hanging fruit is pretty well picked over with demand ever-increasing as new markets develop economically. We've entered an era of difficult-to-extract talent, which requires considerable innovation and investment.
Theme: Demographic decline.
Subject Article: "Slumping Fertility Rates in Developing Countries Spark Labor Worries: Birthrates Fall in Thailand, Raising Concerns about Aging Population."
Other Links: 1. "Talent Is The New Oil."
2. "Shale Gas And Talent Geopolitics."
3. "Age Problem: Projected year of working-age population peak."
4. "Hong Kong Is Dying."
5. "Asia's Rise: Don't believe the hype about the decline of America and the dawn of a new Asian age. It will be many decades before China, India, and the rest of the region take over the world, if they ever do."
6. "Putin is violating a rule that was designed to prevent World War Three."
7. "Plugging China's talent pool."
8. "Can Chinese 'immigration deficit' be cut in future?"
9. "A Second American Century."
Postscript: I guess I'm hitching my wagon to the talent-is-the-new-oil metaphor. I already term places such as NYC "talent refineries". Universities are talent extractors, the energy companies. Places such as Pittsburgh are resource-rich fields where the good stuff is easy (i.e. inexpensive) to mine. The low-hanging fruit is pretty well picked over with demand ever-increasing as new markets develop economically. We've entered an era of difficult-to-extract talent, which requires considerable innovation and investment.
Thursday, March 20, 2014
Ironic Gentrification and the Migration of Globalization
Explaining urban Rust Belt gentrification at Pacific Standard magazine.
Theme: Globalization and migration.
Subject Article: "Housing Affordability in New York State."
Other Links: 1. "Behind a Blue-Collar Cliché: 'The Office' and returning natives help Scranton, Pa., stage a comeback."
2, "Why New Yorkers Are Moving to Philly and What It Means for Our City."
3. "Extensive and intensive globalizations: explicating the low connectivity puzzle of US cities using a city-dyad analysis."
4. "Fleeing Greater Density for Lower Taxes."
5. "Economic Geography of Eds and Meds."
6. "Safeguarding against gentrification, city seeks to protect residents near Medical Campus before a spike."
7. "A Cost-Control Lesson From an Unlikely Source."
Postscript: If I am right about globalization and gentrification spreading via talent migration, then local policy won't do much to address the problem of housing affordability. I'm skeptical of calls for more liberal zoning regulations and increasing units of housing as way to mitigating residential displacement. I think the key is what kind of jobs are linked to a given neighborhood. This geography is largely absent from the debate about gentrification because it doesn't fit within preferred narratives (e.g. Neil Smith's "revanchist city").
Theme: Globalization and migration.
Subject Article: "Housing Affordability in New York State."
Other Links: 1. "Behind a Blue-Collar Cliché: 'The Office' and returning natives help Scranton, Pa., stage a comeback."
2, "Why New Yorkers Are Moving to Philly and What It Means for Our City."
3. "Extensive and intensive globalizations: explicating the low connectivity puzzle of US cities using a city-dyad analysis."
4. "Fleeing Greater Density for Lower Taxes."
5. "Economic Geography of Eds and Meds."
6. "Safeguarding against gentrification, city seeks to protect residents near Medical Campus before a spike."
7. "A Cost-Control Lesson From an Unlikely Source."
Postscript: If I am right about globalization and gentrification spreading via talent migration, then local policy won't do much to address the problem of housing affordability. I'm skeptical of calls for more liberal zoning regulations and increasing units of housing as way to mitigating residential displacement. I think the key is what kind of jobs are linked to a given neighborhood. This geography is largely absent from the debate about gentrification because it doesn't fit within preferred narratives (e.g. Neil Smith's "revanchist city").
Wednesday, March 19, 2014
How Talent Migration Facilitates the Diffusion of Globalization
How migration fuels economic globalization at Pacific Standard magazine.
Theme: Migration and globalization.
Subject Article: "The Effect of Trade and Migration on Income."
Other Links: 1. "Connecting Neighborhoods, Not Nations: Small Geographic Scales of Globalization."
2. "A Second American Century."
3. "Burgh Diaspora: Connecting Neighborhoods, Not Nations: Small Geographic Scales of Globalization."
4. "Talent On the Move: A passionate case for open immigration policies, and the recruiting and retaining of foreign-born talent."
5. "In Praise of Brain Drain: Want to help the developing world? Hire away its best minds."
Postscript: I'm building up to the diffusion of globalization to Cleveland via return migration from places such as New York City. Typically, globalization is framed as railroading the Rust Belt. Quite to the contrary, I argue that globalization has avoided most of the Rust Belt and that explains the hard economic times.
Theme: Migration and globalization.
Subject Article: "The Effect of Trade and Migration on Income."
Other Links: 1. "Connecting Neighborhoods, Not Nations: Small Geographic Scales of Globalization."
2. "A Second American Century."
3. "Burgh Diaspora: Connecting Neighborhoods, Not Nations: Small Geographic Scales of Globalization."
4. "Talent On the Move: A passionate case for open immigration policies, and the recruiting and retaining of foreign-born talent."
5. "In Praise of Brain Drain: Want to help the developing world? Hire away its best minds."
Postscript: I'm building up to the diffusion of globalization to Cleveland via return migration from places such as New York City. Typically, globalization is framed as railroading the Rust Belt. Quite to the contrary, I argue that globalization has avoided most of the Rust Belt and that explains the hard economic times.
Tuesday, March 18, 2014
Connecting Neighborhoods, Not Nations: Small Geographic Scales of Globalization
The geography of globalization is quite small at Pacific Standard magazine.
Theme: Globalization and migration.
Subject Article: "Small proves beautiful at boutique banks."
Other Links: 1. "America's 1,000 Richest Neighborhoods."
2. "The Dozen Regional Powerhouses Driving the U.S. Economy."
3. "Welcome to a new world of risk-aware globalisation."
4. "Trust in Numbers: The Pursuit of Objectivity in Science and Public Life."
5. "Geography of the Legacy Economy: Mapping the Next Boom."
6. "Urban Islands of Poverty and Bowling With Strangers."
Postscript: I figure the genesis for this post started with the book "Borderless Economics" by Robert Guest. Migrants become agents of globalization. Brain drain is a good thing. Isolation (i.e. no people movement in or out) means crushing poverty. For Guest, the lines of global commerce are the pathways of migrants that connect two places and unleash innovation. But Guest's geography is one of international migration connecting two countries. What about within a country such as the United States? Some places are isolated (e.g. Rust Belt cities). Even within the most globalized cities, neighborhoods are left behind. One doesn't move from Cleveland to New York City. One relocates from Shaker Heights to Greenpoint. Two neighborhoods are connected, enabling a back flow of globalization and, I contend, gentrification.
Theme: Globalization and migration.
Subject Article: "Small proves beautiful at boutique banks."
Other Links: 1. "America's 1,000 Richest Neighborhoods."
2. "The Dozen Regional Powerhouses Driving the U.S. Economy."
3. "Welcome to a new world of risk-aware globalisation."
4. "Trust in Numbers: The Pursuit of Objectivity in Science and Public Life."
5. "Geography of the Legacy Economy: Mapping the Next Boom."
6. "Urban Islands of Poverty and Bowling With Strangers."
Postscript: I figure the genesis for this post started with the book "Borderless Economics" by Robert Guest. Migrants become agents of globalization. Brain drain is a good thing. Isolation (i.e. no people movement in or out) means crushing poverty. For Guest, the lines of global commerce are the pathways of migrants that connect two places and unleash innovation. But Guest's geography is one of international migration connecting two countries. What about within a country such as the United States? Some places are isolated (e.g. Rust Belt cities). Even within the most globalized cities, neighborhoods are left behind. One doesn't move from Cleveland to New York City. One relocates from Shaker Heights to Greenpoint. Two neighborhoods are connected, enabling a back flow of globalization and, I contend, gentrification.
Monday, March 17, 2014
Geography of the Legacy Economy: Mapping the Next Boom
Legacy Economy reshuffling second tier of the US urban hierarchy at Pacific Standard magazine.
Theme: Ironic demographics
Subject Article: "Las Vegas may be missing key aspects to attracting investors."
Other Links: 1. "Spare a thought for Silicon Valley’s rust belt: More cost-cutting to come at suppliers of corporate technology."
2. "Did Robots Save Pittsburgh?"
3. "Cities make use of legacy assets."
4. "San Francisco’s Detroit Moment."
5. "Wall Street to shift more staff out of pricey cities."
6. "The New Geography of Jobs."
7. "The slow death of Silicon Roundabout: Scattering Shoreditch's startups to the winds may not kill them all – but the creative energy that inspired them has gone."
Postscript: I could have done a post on Other Link #7. That story is about the gentrification of the start-up culture from Silicon Roundabout. The ironic gentrifiers, international students:
The complaint is audacious in its naked xenophobia, much in the same way Spike Lee's complaints about the gentrification of his Brooklyn were.Still, what a fascinating indicator of the power of the Legacy Economy. London real estate is dear. Housing of international students rates as a good return on investment. Higher education is pushing out tech innovation from the urban core.
Theme: Ironic demographics
Subject Article: "Las Vegas may be missing key aspects to attracting investors."
Other Links: 1. "Spare a thought for Silicon Valley’s rust belt: More cost-cutting to come at suppliers of corporate technology."
2. "Did Robots Save Pittsburgh?"
3. "Cities make use of legacy assets."
4. "San Francisco’s Detroit Moment."
5. "Wall Street to shift more staff out of pricey cities."
6. "The New Geography of Jobs."
7. "The slow death of Silicon Roundabout: Scattering Shoreditch's startups to the winds may not kill them all – but the creative energy that inspired them has gone."
Postscript: I could have done a post on Other Link #7. That story is about the gentrification of the start-up culture from Silicon Roundabout. The ironic gentrifiers, international students:
But in 2010, the council started approving the demolition of these buildings and their replacement with high-rise, commercial student housing that targets wealthy overseas students. The first major development inaugurated a welcome new alleyway that connected a former dead-end with East Road, with an unironic official street sign that read "Silicon Way".
The complaint is audacious in its naked xenophobia, much in the same way Spike Lee's complaints about the gentrification of his Brooklyn were.Still, what a fascinating indicator of the power of the Legacy Economy. London real estate is dear. Housing of international students rates as a good return on investment. Higher education is pushing out tech innovation from the urban core.
Friday, March 14, 2014
Warm Januaries and Cold Julys: Climate Doesn’t Affect Human Migration Patterns
Dispelling the myth of climate amenities migration at Pacific Standard magazine.
Theme: Ironic demography.
Subject Article: "Is Chicago Too Cold to Compete With the South?"
Other Links: 1. "Randy Pausch's Last Lecture."
2. "Randy's Story."
3. "Figure 1. Temperature and State Growth, 1920-1980."
4. "Altered States: A Perspective on 75 Years of State Income Growth."
5. "Mayor Rahm Emanuel Makes First International Trip To Mexico City."
Postscript: Aaron Renn's summary of the impact of climate reputation on talent migration:
I can imagine that someone given two choices for residence would pick the warmer January. Furthermore, people do move in hopes of finding paradise. But such migration is the exception, not the rule. Calgary, Alberta isn't booming because its climate beats Vancouver's. I live in the DC metro area. Traffic sucks. Housing is super expensive. Many people feel compelled to do insane commutes. And people keep moving here.
The positive correlation between warmer Januaries and robust population growth is strong. That doesn't mean that a better climate (or lower taxes) drives migration.
Theme: Ironic demography.
Subject Article: "Is Chicago Too Cold to Compete With the South?"
Other Links: 1. "Randy Pausch's Last Lecture."
2. "Randy's Story."
3. "Figure 1. Temperature and State Growth, 1920-1980."
4. "Altered States: A Perspective on 75 Years of State Income Growth."
5. "Mayor Rahm Emanuel Makes First International Trip To Mexico City."
Postscript: Aaron Renn's summary of the impact of climate reputation on talent migration:
The reality is that the Midwest and Great Plains are already known for their lousy winters, and this particularly brutal one can’t be helping with near term recruitment. I don’t want to overstate the impact, but clearly it doesn’t help someone choose to live there vs. San Francisco, Austin, or even a Washington, DC.
I can imagine that someone given two choices for residence would pick the warmer January. Furthermore, people do move in hopes of finding paradise. But such migration is the exception, not the rule. Calgary, Alberta isn't booming because its climate beats Vancouver's. I live in the DC metro area. Traffic sucks. Housing is super expensive. Many people feel compelled to do insane commutes. And people keep moving here.
The positive correlation between warmer Januaries and robust population growth is strong. That doesn't mean that a better climate (or lower taxes) drives migration.
Thursday, March 13, 2014
Demographically Speaking, Cleveland Is Outperforming Chicago
Future looks brighter in Cleveland than in Chicago at Pacific Standard magazine.
Theme: Ironic demographics.
Subject Article: "Cleveland's 'trouble-making' demographer gets a center to plot the region's growth."
Other Links: 1. "CSU Launches Center for Population Dynamics."
Postscript: Besides the replication problem, there are other issues with the Chicago/Cleveland comparison. Given how the brain drain/gain is counted in each newspaper story, Chicago is to Cleveland as apples are to oranges. However, the overall ironic brain drain in Cook County and ironic brain gain in Cuyahoga would seem to be valid. Richey is still sifting through the Cleveland data. The trends are shockingly good.
Wednesday, March 12, 2014
What Talent Shortage? The Great American Brain Waste of Our Captive Labor Market
No talent shortage and no brain drain, only brain waste at Pacific Standard magazine.
Theme: War for talent.
Subject Article: "Women’s salaries dragged down by domestic demands."
Other Links: 1. "Purdue research: Lots of 'brain waste' among highly educated immigrants."
Postscript: Linking brain waste to my recent preoccupation with higher education demographics, Oregon State University making lemonade out of lemons:
Emphasis added. Essentially, there is a talent shortage of foreign born college students. Instead of blubbering to government about the lack of ready-to-work as corporations do, universities are assuming the risk of "training" in order to tap a larger available demographic. Stop whining about the shortage of talent and go about fix the problem yourself.
Theme: War for talent.
Subject Article: "Women’s salaries dragged down by domestic demands."
Other Links: 1. "Purdue research: Lots of 'brain waste' among highly educated immigrants."
Postscript: Linking brain waste to my recent preoccupation with higher education demographics, Oregon State University making lemonade out of lemons:
Into Oregon State has a 12-person student care team that offers workshops and personal counseling on cultural issues that go far beyond the academic: dating etiquette, notions of personal space and privacy, driving and drinking laws, attitudes toward mental health, body language, and standards of interaction with peers, faculty members or even, if needed, the police.
The most prestigious American schools have no shortage of foreign applicants and have their pick of the best. But most colleges and universities are relatively unknown worldwide and lack the resources to do overseas recruiting. And while the supply of students abroad who want an American education is immense, the number who are actually prepared for it is much more limited.
A number of for-profit companies have stepped into that breach, offering recruitment services or college preparatory boot camps, but a handful offer something more ambitious, working with American colleges to create bridge programs for foreigners, a more common practice in Britain and Australia. Six years ago, there were no programs of that kind in the United States, but now at least 15 American universities have them, working with companies like Into and Study Group, both based in Britain; Navitas, an Australian company; and Kaplan Inc., with more scheduled to come on line.
Emphasis added. Essentially, there is a talent shortage of foreign born college students. Instead of blubbering to government about the lack of ready-to-work as corporations do, universities are assuming the risk of "training" in order to tap a larger available demographic. Stop whining about the shortage of talent and go about fix the problem yourself.
Monday, March 03, 2014
Border Guard Bob Says, ‘Pittsburgh Is Dying’
Intolerant Pittsburgh can't retain local graduates at Pacific Standard magazine.
Theme: Demographics and brain drain.
Subject Article: "How Pittsburgh can up its game in brainpower."
Other Links: 1. "The Era of Dying Places: Everyone Is Starved for Talent, but Migration Is a Thing of the Past."
2. "Atlanta Is Dying: Young, Smart People Are Fleeing Georgia’s Capital City."
3. "Mayor working to keep more Tech grads."
4. "The Business Journals' brainpower rankings for 102 major markets."
5. "Sic Semper Bob."
6. "How now brown town? A former steel city is now proclaiming its cleaner land and clever minds."
7. "Border Guard Bob comes out of retirement."
8. "The Robots That Saved Pittsburgh: How the Steel City avoided Detroit’s fate."
9. "Preventing a Brain Drain: Talent Retention in Boston."
10. "New startup conference aims to halt Boston brain drain."
11. "Boston Is Dying."
Postscript: Pittsburgh needs to retain more local college graduates because the educational attainment rate of the workforce is relatively low via national comparison. But the educational attainment rate of Pittsburgh is relatively low because of the demographic bomb that went off in the 1980s and 250,000 people left the region. Talent retention isn't a time machine. I'm disappointed in Mayor Peduto. The people of Pittsburgh deserve better leadership.
Theme: Demographics and brain drain.
Subject Article: "How Pittsburgh can up its game in brainpower."
Other Links: 1. "The Era of Dying Places: Everyone Is Starved for Talent, but Migration Is a Thing of the Past."
2. "Atlanta Is Dying: Young, Smart People Are Fleeing Georgia’s Capital City."
3. "Mayor working to keep more Tech grads."
4. "The Business Journals' brainpower rankings for 102 major markets."
5. "Sic Semper Bob."
6. "How now brown town? A former steel city is now proclaiming its cleaner land and clever minds."
7. "Border Guard Bob comes out of retirement."
8. "The Robots That Saved Pittsburgh: How the Steel City avoided Detroit’s fate."
9. "Preventing a Brain Drain: Talent Retention in Boston."
10. "New startup conference aims to halt Boston brain drain."
11. "Boston Is Dying."
Postscript: Pittsburgh needs to retain more local college graduates because the educational attainment rate of the workforce is relatively low via national comparison. But the educational attainment rate of Pittsburgh is relatively low because of the demographic bomb that went off in the 1980s and 250,000 people left the region. Talent retention isn't a time machine. I'm disappointed in Mayor Peduto. The people of Pittsburgh deserve better leadership.
Wednesday, February 26, 2014
The Era of Dying Places: Everyone Is Starved for Talent, but Migration Is a Thing of the Past
California is dying and your state is next at Pacific Standard magazine.
Theme: Demographic decline and Legacy Economy.
Subject Article: "Why California needs the young if it's to thrive: Age, not race or ethnicity, matters most for the state's future prosperity."
Other Links: 1. "Puerto Rico Is Dying."
2. "How Return Migration Will Save The World."
3. "The New Geography of Jobs."
4. "Era of Dying Places."
5. "Net Migration Between California and Other States: 1955-1960 and 1995-2000."
6. "Texas Gov. Rick Perry Not About 'To Ride Off Into the Sunset'."
7. "The gain before the pain: Mexico’s demographic dividend will be short-lived."
8. "Young people are NOT leaving Pittsburgh: Statistics in hand, Chris Briem is happy to explode the myth of a continuing exodus."
Postscript: Scouring the ends of the earth for prospective college freshman:
For Pennsylvania, been there and done that. Good luck catching up.
Theme: Demographic decline and Legacy Economy.
Subject Article: "Why California needs the young if it's to thrive: Age, not race or ethnicity, matters most for the state's future prosperity."
Other Links: 1. "Puerto Rico Is Dying."
2. "How Return Migration Will Save The World."
3. "The New Geography of Jobs."
4. "Era of Dying Places."
5. "Net Migration Between California and Other States: 1955-1960 and 1995-2000."
6. "Texas Gov. Rick Perry Not About 'To Ride Off Into the Sunset'."
7. "The gain before the pain: Mexico’s demographic dividend will be short-lived."
8. "Young people are NOT leaving Pittsburgh: Statistics in hand, Chris Briem is happy to explode the myth of a continuing exodus."
Postscript: Scouring the ends of the earth for prospective college freshman:
A waning number of high school graduates from the Midwest is sparking a college hunt for freshman applicants, with the decline being felt as far away as Harvard and Emory universities.
The drop is the leading edge of a demographic change that is likely to ease competition for slots at selective schools and is already prompting concern among Midwestern colleges.
“You can’t create 18-year-olds in a lab,” said Brian Prescott, director of policy research at the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education in Boulder, Colorado. “Enrollment managers are facing an awful lot of pressure that they can’t do much about.”
For Pennsylvania, been there and done that. Good luck catching up.
Tuesday, February 25, 2014
MOOCs Are Going to Make College Even More Expensive
MOOCs are for international talent recruiting, not education at Pacific Standard magazine.
Theme: Higher education and the Legacy Economy.
Subject Article: "How colleges are finding tomorrow's prodigies: American universities are using online courses to discover gifted students in math, science, and the arts. Meet three phenoms from the far corners of the world."
Other Links: 1. "Capturing the world’s emerging middle class: Multinational companies need new “scale at speed” approaches to penetrate the developing world’s increasingly prosperous consumer markets."
2. "Why the United States Will Rule the Legacy Economy."
3. "Are Graduation Rates an Input or an Output?"
Postscript: New Jersey feeds high school graduates to Pennsylvania institutions of higher education. This is a source of considerable anxiety of the brain drain kind. But instead of retention, New Jersey institutions of higher education want to be more like Pennsylvania:
Demographically, New Jersey can't support Rutgers. Rutgers must import freshman (i.e. export higher education). MOOCs are a good way to do that and will allow Rutgers to collect more tuition dollars.
Theme: Higher education and the Legacy Economy.
Subject Article: "How colleges are finding tomorrow's prodigies: American universities are using online courses to discover gifted students in math, science, and the arts. Meet three phenoms from the far corners of the world."
Other Links: 1. "Capturing the world’s emerging middle class: Multinational companies need new “scale at speed” approaches to penetrate the developing world’s increasingly prosperous consumer markets."
2. "Why the United States Will Rule the Legacy Economy."
3. "Are Graduation Rates an Input or an Output?"
Postscript: New Jersey feeds high school graduates to Pennsylvania institutions of higher education. This is a source of considerable anxiety of the brain drain kind. But instead of retention, New Jersey institutions of higher education want to be more like Pennsylvania:
This scholarship is great, but there are a couple of other things we should keep in mind. It’s in the University’s interest to increase enrollment from out-of-state and international students, and yet these students currently make up only 14 percent of the overall student population. The higher tuition from out-of-state students will bring more money to Rutgers, and there could be more of a focus on this oft-forgotten part of the overall student population to increase their enrollment.
Demographically, New Jersey can't support Rutgers. Rutgers must import freshman (i.e. export higher education). MOOCs are a good way to do that and will allow Rutgers to collect more tuition dollars.
Saturday, February 22, 2014
Why the United States Will Rule the Legacy Economy
The United States is exporting higher education to the entire world at Pacific Standard magazine.
Theme: Rise of the Legacy Economy and higher education.
Subject Article: "Mexico’s study-abroad strategy is real news out of summit."
Other Links: 1. "It’s Settled: Silicon Valley Is Dying. So What’s Next?"
2. "A Second American Century."
3. "Era of Dying Places."
4. "Massive open online forces."
5. "30 Years: Exodus from Pittsburgh has finally abated."
6. "Southern California Has Aging Issues."
7. "Talent Production and Job Creation."
Postscript: Higher education in Florida, from paradise to Pennsylvania:
Higher education talent is agglomerating in Pennsylvania because institutions there lead the way in exporting services.
Theme: Rise of the Legacy Economy and higher education.
Subject Article: "Mexico’s study-abroad strategy is real news out of summit."
Other Links: 1. "It’s Settled: Silicon Valley Is Dying. So What’s Next?"
2. "A Second American Century."
3. "Era of Dying Places."
4. "Massive open online forces."
5. "30 Years: Exodus from Pittsburgh has finally abated."
6. "Southern California Has Aging Issues."
7. "Talent Production and Job Creation."
Postscript: Higher education in Florida, from paradise to Pennsylvania:
The departure of Florida State University President Eric Barron to join the Penn State University system was met with much surprise, as was the leaving of former State University System Chancellor Frank Brogan, also recently migrating to Pennsylvania, and before him the move of John Cavanaugh from the University of West Florida to this same northern state. We seem to have a budding employment pipeline that runs from Florida to Pennsylvania.
Most would wonder why in the world Pennsylvania would serve as a magnet for Florida-based talent. Is it the severe budget cuts that have occurred there, leaving state funding for their institutions at “1995 levels,” as one university president described it? Is it the record snowfall and cold weather that are so appealing? Is it the statewide demographic challenges of having fewer college-bound residents — added to the practice of neighboring states offering discounted tuition for Pennsylvania students?
Higher education talent is agglomerating in Pennsylvania because institutions there lead the way in exporting services.
Wednesday, February 19, 2014
A Second American Century
Rise of the Legacy Economy and a second American Century at Pacific Standard magazine.
Theme: Convergence of the Innovation Economy.
Subject Article: "How Johnson’s ‘Great Society’ boosted Silicon Valley."
Other Links: 1. "Five Linked Crises in the Contemporary World-System."
2. "Washington Consensus."
3. "Left Behind: Chicago is bequeathing an urban jungle to the next generation."
4. "It’s Settled: Silicon Valley Is Dying. So What’s Next?"
5. "Not Dante's Pittsburgh."
6. "Era of Dying Places."
7. "Diverging Demography of Baltimore and Africa."
8. "The False Promise of Eds and Meds."
9. "Urban Geography of Globalization."
10. "Rahm Emanuel: Mayor America."
Postscript: Riding high on a wave of innovation after the collapse of manufacturing, Chicago is heading towards a major wipe out:
Compare that to recent trends in Cleveland:
Granted, Cleveland is trying to catch up to Chicago's lofty perch now in decline. Chicago is betting on the converging Innovation Economy. More places will compete for a shrinking pool of talent. Cleveland is betting on the diverging Legacy Economy. Chicago does have great legacy assets (i.e. institutions of higher education producing world class talent), but seems to be ignoring them at its own peril.
Theme: Convergence of the Innovation Economy.
Subject Article: "How Johnson’s ‘Great Society’ boosted Silicon Valley."
Other Links: 1. "Five Linked Crises in the Contemporary World-System."
2. "Washington Consensus."
3. "Left Behind: Chicago is bequeathing an urban jungle to the next generation."
4. "It’s Settled: Silicon Valley Is Dying. So What’s Next?"
5. "Not Dante's Pittsburgh."
6. "Era of Dying Places."
7. "Diverging Demography of Baltimore and Africa."
8. "The False Promise of Eds and Meds."
9. "Urban Geography of Globalization."
10. "Rahm Emanuel: Mayor America."
Postscript: Riding high on a wave of innovation after the collapse of manufacturing, Chicago is heading towards a major wipe out:
Between 2007 and 2011, Chicago and its immediate suburbs also ended up with about 10,000 fewer residents with a bachelor's degree or higher, even after accounting for new arrivals, according to the U.S. Census Bureau's first attempt to track population shifts by income and education at the county level.
In recent years, local officials and real estate developers have touted a resurgence in young tech workers and affluent empty-nesters revitalizing the city's core. Yet those trends are seemingly being overshadowed by more powerful factors, as other parts of the city and close-in suburbs send even larger numbers of prosperous, college-educated people to DuPage County and beyond.
“Wow, the movement back to the center that a lot of urban planners in the region were hoping for isn't borne out by this data,” says Rich Greene, associate professor of geography and urban studies at Northern Illinois University. “It's counter to what we've all been reading about.”
Compare that to recent trends in Cleveland:
The census estimates show that Cuyahoga County, where Cleveland is located, gained about 3,450 more highly educated people than it lost. An estimated 25,450 adults with at least some college experience came to the county while about 22,000 left.
Granted, Cleveland is trying to catch up to Chicago's lofty perch now in decline. Chicago is betting on the converging Innovation Economy. More places will compete for a shrinking pool of talent. Cleveland is betting on the diverging Legacy Economy. Chicago does have great legacy assets (i.e. institutions of higher education producing world class talent), but seems to be ignoring them at its own peril.
Wednesday, February 12, 2014
Atlanta Is Dying: Young, Smart People Are Fleeing Georgia’s Capital City
Atlanta mayor claims his city stinks at Pacific Standard magazine.
Theme: People develop, not places.
Subject Article: "Mayor working to keep more Tech grads."
Other Links: 1. "The White Flight Myth."
2. "Why 'Brain Drain' Can Actually Benefit African Countries."
3. "Mating With Migrants."
4. "Mesofacts Migration: Rural Counties."
Postscript: France beginning to embrace its brain drain:
So much effort is wasted on retention. Better leverage existing outflows and inflows of talent. Above all, remember people develop, not places.
Theme: People develop, not places.
Subject Article: "Mayor working to keep more Tech grads."
Other Links: 1. "The White Flight Myth."
2. "Why 'Brain Drain' Can Actually Benefit African Countries."
3. "Mating With Migrants."
4. "Mesofacts Migration: Rural Counties."
Postscript: France beginning to embrace its brain drain:
Liam Boogar, a Silicon Valley native who three years ago set up Rude Baguette, a start-up blog based in Paris, says French tech entrepreneurs have been going to California since the 1980s. "They have probably done more good than harm to France. French engineers have a great reputation in the Valley, which France has underleveraged," he says.
So much effort is wasted on retention. Better leverage existing outflows and inflows of talent. Above all, remember people develop, not places.
Tuesday, February 11, 2014
The Country Where Unemployment Is Better Than Employment
Germany must import entrepreneurs at Pacific Standard magazine.
Theme: Demographic decline and the war for talent.
Subject Article: "How ‘entrepreneur’ stopped being a European word."
Other Links: "Rabenmutter: Germany Waging the War for Talent Without Women."
Postscript: Where we are all headed:
People develop, not places.
Theme: Demographic decline and the war for talent.
Subject Article: "How ‘entrepreneur’ stopped being a European word."
Other Links: "Rabenmutter: Germany Waging the War for Talent Without Women."
Postscript: Where we are all headed:
“In the boom years after the ’90s, all our policies were designed to attract labour,” says Catarina Reis Oliveira, the head of the research department of the Portuguese government’s High Commission for Immigration. “But since the crisis, we’re looking at immigrants as a source of employment – as people to create jobs.”
People develop, not places.
Saturday, February 08, 2014
Cleveland’s Pittsburgh Moment
Cleveland is dying just like Pittsburgh was back in 2004 at Pacific Standard magazine.
Theme: Economic convergence.
Subject Article: "Did Burke Lakefront Airport Miscalculations Add to Hopkins Hub Troubles in Cleveland?"
Other Links: 1. "The Robots That Saved Pittsburgh: How the Steel City avoided Detroit’s fate."
2. "United Airlines ending of non-stop to Oklahoma City could crimp Ohio shale gas development."
3. "Chesapeake CEO Makes Surprise Stop in Region."
4. "Chesapeake forging ahead despite job cuts: Recent job cuts and reports of corporate restructuring at Chesapeake Energy have hit local operations."
5. "United Airlines exit is a major setback that reflects this region's failure to fix the fundamentals."
6. "Terminal Sickness: How a thirty-year-old policy of deregulation is slowly killing America’s airline system—and taking down Cincinnati, Memphis, and St. Louis with it."
7. "A Tale of Two Rust-Belt Cities."
8. "Dismantling Pittsburgh: Death of an airline hub."
9. "Who the hell does this Sienna Miller skank think she is? Question submitted by: Pittsburghers everywhere"
10. "A Neighborhood's Comeback: Part of Pittsburgh Finally Recovers From 1950s Planners; Google Sets Up Office."
Postscript: What's driving the economic turnaround in Pittsburgh? One theory is that the Innovation Economy is converging. The group of metro winners is growing. Silicon Valley's dominance is eroding. Another possible theory is the divergence of the Legacy Economy. A new set of winners are forming with the rise of the next economic epoch in the wake of the Innovation Economy's decline. I think the Innovation Economy is converging in Cleveland. Meanwhile, the Legacy Economy is converging in Pittsburgh. Thus, the disparity between brain hubs.
Theme: Economic convergence.
Subject Article: "Did Burke Lakefront Airport Miscalculations Add to Hopkins Hub Troubles in Cleveland?"
Other Links: 1. "The Robots That Saved Pittsburgh: How the Steel City avoided Detroit’s fate."
2. "United Airlines ending of non-stop to Oklahoma City could crimp Ohio shale gas development."
3. "Chesapeake CEO Makes Surprise Stop in Region."
4. "Chesapeake forging ahead despite job cuts: Recent job cuts and reports of corporate restructuring at Chesapeake Energy have hit local operations."
5. "United Airlines exit is a major setback that reflects this region's failure to fix the fundamentals."
6. "Terminal Sickness: How a thirty-year-old policy of deregulation is slowly killing America’s airline system—and taking down Cincinnati, Memphis, and St. Louis with it."
7. "A Tale of Two Rust-Belt Cities."
8. "Dismantling Pittsburgh: Death of an airline hub."
9. "Who the hell does this Sienna Miller skank think she is? Question submitted by: Pittsburghers everywhere"
10. "A Neighborhood's Comeback: Part of Pittsburgh Finally Recovers From 1950s Planners; Google Sets Up Office."
Postscript: What's driving the economic turnaround in Pittsburgh? One theory is that the Innovation Economy is converging. The group of metro winners is growing. Silicon Valley's dominance is eroding. Another possible theory is the divergence of the Legacy Economy. A new set of winners are forming with the rise of the next economic epoch in the wake of the Innovation Economy's decline. I think the Innovation Economy is converging in Cleveland. Meanwhile, the Legacy Economy is converging in Pittsburgh. Thus, the disparity between brain hubs.
Wednesday, February 05, 2014
Requiem for ‘The Washington Post’
Churn or burn at Pacific Standard magazine.
Theme: Brain drain and talent churn.
Subject Article: "Labour markets: Churnalism."
Other Links: 1. "Three more Washington Post staffers leave to join Klein venture."
2. "‘The New York Times’ Is Dying."
3. "If you love your most talented employees, set them free."
4. "Zero-Sum Creative Class."
5. "Walkability Boondoggle."
6. "Migration Is Economic Development."
7. "Washington Post's Brad Plumer, Sarah Kliff Joining Ezra Klein's Vox Venture."
Postscript: Why retaining talent (plugging the brain drain) is bad for the economy isn't rocket science. An economic cluster is useless if talent doesn't flow in and out of the businesses within that cluster. Inter-firm talent migration is crucial for innovation. Greater density won't help.
Theme: Brain drain and talent churn.
Subject Article: "Labour markets: Churnalism."
Other Links: 1. "Three more Washington Post staffers leave to join Klein venture."
2. "‘The New York Times’ Is Dying."
3. "If you love your most talented employees, set them free."
4. "Zero-Sum Creative Class."
5. "Walkability Boondoggle."
6. "Migration Is Economic Development."
7. "Washington Post's Brad Plumer, Sarah Kliff Joining Ezra Klein's Vox Venture."
Postscript: Why retaining talent (plugging the brain drain) is bad for the economy isn't rocket science. An economic cluster is useless if talent doesn't flow in and out of the businesses within that cluster. Inter-firm talent migration is crucial for innovation. Greater density won't help.
It’s Settled: Silicon Valley Is Dying. So What’s Next?
Google is the migrant, talent the attraction at Pacific Standard magazine.
Theme: Economic divergence and convergence.
Subject Article: "The shadow of success: Facing the facts on Silicon Valley’s affordable housing crisis."
Other Links: 1. "San Francisco’s Detroit Moment."
2. "Lone Star Power."
3. "I left New York for LA because creativity requires the freedom to fail."
4. "Moby Selling Rust Belt Chic Los Angeles."
5. "Zero-Sum Creative Class."
6. "Legacy Economy: Pittsburgh Steel Crazy After All These Years."
7. "Anchors and Arts Help Redefine the Rust Belt."
8. "Pittsburghese as Lingua Franca."
9. "Google confirms expansion to Bakery Square 2.0."
10. "Waiting on Google's announcement at Bakery Square 2.0."
11. "The Rise of the Creative Class."
Postscript: I've been working up to this post for about two years. I termed the successor of the "Innovation Economy" (as Enrico Moretti called it in "New Geography of Jobs") as the "Talent Economy". I'm dumping the term. The "Legacy Economy" is already diverging while the Innovation Economy continues its decline. Meaning, Pittsburgh is not so much catching up to Silicon Valley as it is replace it on a global scale.
Theme: Economic divergence and convergence.
Subject Article: "The shadow of success: Facing the facts on Silicon Valley’s affordable housing crisis."
Other Links: 1. "San Francisco’s Detroit Moment."
2. "Lone Star Power."
3. "I left New York for LA because creativity requires the freedom to fail."
4. "Moby Selling Rust Belt Chic Los Angeles."
5. "Zero-Sum Creative Class."
6. "Legacy Economy: Pittsburgh Steel Crazy After All These Years."
7. "Anchors and Arts Help Redefine the Rust Belt."
8. "Pittsburghese as Lingua Franca."
9. "Google confirms expansion to Bakery Square 2.0."
10. "Waiting on Google's announcement at Bakery Square 2.0."
11. "The Rise of the Creative Class."
Postscript: I've been working up to this post for about two years. I termed the successor of the "Innovation Economy" (as Enrico Moretti called it in "New Geography of Jobs") as the "Talent Economy". I'm dumping the term. The "Legacy Economy" is already diverging while the Innovation Economy continues its decline. Meaning, Pittsburgh is not so much catching up to Silicon Valley as it is replace it on a global scale.
Sunday, February 02, 2014
Pittsburghese as Lingua Franca
Putting french fries and coleslaw on artisanal toast at Pacific Standard magazine.
Theme: Bowling with strangers.
Subject Article: "Oral History: CMU linguistics professor charts the city's history through its language."
Other Links: 1. "Guerrilla Geographies of Artisanal Toast."
2. "Urban Islands of Poverty and Bowling With Strangers."
3. "bowling with strangers: emerging patterns of desegregation foretell a vibrant economy."
4. "The Stranger."
5. "A Toast Story."
6. "Putnam explains NYT article: Port Clinton an example of a national wealth gap, he says."
Postscript: Pittsburghese, a product of decades of parochial attitudes built by an absence of in-migration, helps newcomers connect with locals. Conversely, Pittsburghers cling to their Rust Belt roots by wrapping Yinzers in nostalgia. It's an affluent NOVA gang sign. The Yinzerati run the world.
Theme: Bowling with strangers.
Subject Article: "Oral History: CMU linguistics professor charts the city's history through its language."
Other Links: 1. "Guerrilla Geographies of Artisanal Toast."
2. "Urban Islands of Poverty and Bowling With Strangers."
3. "bowling with strangers: emerging patterns of desegregation foretell a vibrant economy."
4. "The Stranger."
5. "A Toast Story."
6. "Putnam explains NYT article: Port Clinton an example of a national wealth gap, he says."
Postscript: Pittsburghese, a product of decades of parochial attitudes built by an absence of in-migration, helps newcomers connect with locals. Conversely, Pittsburghers cling to their Rust Belt roots by wrapping Yinzers in nostalgia. It's an affluent NOVA gang sign. The Yinzerati run the world.
Saturday, February 01, 2014
San Francisco’s Detroit Moment
Like Detroit in 1960, the wages are too damn high in San Francisco at Pacific Standard magazine.
Theme: Economic convergence of Innovation Economy.
Subject Article: "How Silicon Valley’s most celebrated CEOs conspired to drive down 100,000 tech engineers’ wages."
Other Links: 1. "LOCAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT: SOME CITIES DEVELOP MORE THAN OTHERS: SPECIALIZATION, HUMAN CAPITAL, AND INSTITUTIONS."
2. "WHY I’M MOVING MY BUSINESS FROM SAN FRANCISCO TO ST. LOUIS."
3. "Silicon Valley 2014 economic forecast: Talent crunch, M&A uptick, development sprawl."
4. "Guerrilla Geographies of Artisanal Toast."
5. "The AOL Of China To Build A Suburban Tech Campus In The Sky."
Postscript: Evidence of the decline of the Innovation Economy starts with talent arbitrage. Where can a tech firm find cheaper workers? Clear to me now that we are on the other side of that inflection point:
Silicon Valley's regional economy is imploding, collapsing under the weight of its own success. Detroit suffered the same fate, but during a different economic epoch. I honestly don't think the Detroit comparison is hyperbole.
Theme: Economic convergence of Innovation Economy.
Subject Article: "How Silicon Valley’s most celebrated CEOs conspired to drive down 100,000 tech engineers’ wages."
Other Links: 1. "LOCAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT: SOME CITIES DEVELOP MORE THAN OTHERS: SPECIALIZATION, HUMAN CAPITAL, AND INSTITUTIONS."
2. "WHY I’M MOVING MY BUSINESS FROM SAN FRANCISCO TO ST. LOUIS."
3. "Silicon Valley 2014 economic forecast: Talent crunch, M&A uptick, development sprawl."
4. "Guerrilla Geographies of Artisanal Toast."
5. "The AOL Of China To Build A Suburban Tech Campus In The Sky."
Postscript: Evidence of the decline of the Innovation Economy starts with talent arbitrage. Where can a tech firm find cheaper workers? Clear to me now that we are on the other side of that inflection point:
Jennifer Kelly used to take refuge in her $1,750-a-month, two-bedroom downtown Campbell home.
The former tech sales manager, who made up to $180,000 a year working at startups during the last decade, had a routine of working out on her home Stairmaster or taking joy rides in her sports car to relax after 14-hour workdays.
Now Kelly, who didn’t want her real name used in this story, is stringing together short-term contract work and sleeping in an aging SUV that she parks on a rotating slate of dead-end streets in Silicon Valley.
“Professionally, I’m at director level,” she said. “I had a safety net.”
Two neurosurgeries and a layoff, exacerbated by rising housing costs, have made Kelly, 51, a personification of Silicon Valley’s affordable housing crisis. The region’s high cost of housing affects residents at all pay grades with varying degrees of severity. It also hamstrings employers looking to lure talent to one of the country’s most expensive real estate markets.
Silicon Valley's regional economy is imploding, collapsing under the weight of its own success. Detroit suffered the same fate, but during a different economic epoch. I honestly don't think the Detroit comparison is hyperbole.
Friday, January 31, 2014
Guerrilla Geographies of Artisanal Toast
Gentrification of urban industrial food space at Pacific Standard magazine.
Theme: Globalization and urban geography.
Subject Article: "Foodie frenzy helps push up San Francisco industrial values."
Other Links: 1. "A Toast Story."
2. "Buns, Germs and Steel."
3. "Gentrification of Work in the City."
4. "Rebecca Solnit: Resisting Monoculture."
Postscript: Much more going on in the story by John Gravois than paying $4 for artisanal toast in San Francisco. The source of the trend, Trouble, reveals the social technologies underwriting a global labor market. Bowling with strangers:
Greater density won't catalyze innovation unless you have a coconut.
Theme: Globalization and urban geography.
Subject Article: "Foodie frenzy helps push up San Francisco industrial values."
Other Links: 1. "A Toast Story."
2. "Buns, Germs and Steel."
3. "Gentrification of Work in the City."
4. "Rebecca Solnit: Resisting Monoculture."
Postscript: Much more going on in the story by John Gravois than paying $4 for artisanal toast in San Francisco. The source of the trend, Trouble, reveals the social technologies underwriting a global labor market. Bowling with strangers:
If Trouble’s toast itself made instant sense to me, it was less clear how a willfully obscure coffee shop with barely any indoor seating in a cold, inconvenient neighborhood could have been such a successful launch pad for a food trend. In some ways, the shop seemed to make itself downright difficult to like: It serves no decaf, no non-fat milk, no large drinks, and no espressos to go. On Yelp, several reviewers report having been scolded by baristas for trying to take pictures inside the shop with their phones. (“I better not see that up on Instagram!” one reportedly shouted.)
Nevertheless, most people really seem to love Trouble. On my second visit to the shop, there was a steady line of customers out the door. After receiving their orders, they clustered outside to drink their coffees and eat their toast. With no tables and chairs to allow them to pair off, they looked more like neighbors at a block party than customers at a café. And perhaps most remarkably for San Francisco, none of them had their phones out. ...
... At first, Carrelli explained Trouble as a kind of sociological experiment in engineering spontaneous communication between strangers. She even conducted field research, she says, before opening the shop. “I did a study in New York and San Francisco, standing on the street holding a sandwich, saying hello to people. No one would talk to me. But if I stayed at that same street corner and I was holding a coconut? People would engage,” she said. “I wrote down exactly how many people talked to me.”
Greater density won't catalyze innovation unless you have a coconut.
Thursday, January 30, 2014
The White Flight Myth
Save the place, kill the people at Pacific Standard magazine.
Theme: Migration theory and urban planning.
Subject Article: "White Flight in England? White attraction rather than repulsion seems to be the story."
Other Links: 1. "Mapping 60 Years of White Flight, Brain Drain and American Migration."
2. "Migration as a Strategy for Household Finance: A Research Agenda on Remittances, Payments, and Development."
Postscript: There exists an overtly stated link between quality of the built environment and migration. Walkable, dense, and diverse development will prevent people from leaving. This perspective is at odds with migration scholarship.Speaking from professional firsthand experience, urban planners and developers are ignorant of the migration patterns in their own backyard. This is a grave oversight that results in lousy policy. Well-intended efforts end up as boondoggles, perhaps making things worse instead of better.
Theme: Migration theory and urban planning.
Subject Article: "White Flight in England? White attraction rather than repulsion seems to be the story."
Other Links: 1. "Mapping 60 Years of White Flight, Brain Drain and American Migration."
2. "Migration as a Strategy for Household Finance: A Research Agenda on Remittances, Payments, and Development."
Postscript: There exists an overtly stated link between quality of the built environment and migration. Walkable, dense, and diverse development will prevent people from leaving. This perspective is at odds with migration scholarship.Speaking from professional firsthand experience, urban planners and developers are ignorant of the migration patterns in their own backyard. This is a grave oversight that results in lousy policy. Well-intended efforts end up as boondoggles, perhaps making things worse instead of better.
Friday, January 24, 2014
Walkability Boondoggle
People follow jobs, not sidewalks at Pacific Standard magazine.
Theme: People follow jobs debate.
Subject Article: "Homes a Short Walk From Princeton Prove a Tough Sell."
Other Links: 1. "How to create a creative city? The viewpoints of Richard Florida and Jane Jacobs."
2. "Walk this Way:The Economic Promise of Walkable Places in Metropolitan Washington, D.C."
3. "These Are The Cities Where People Walk The Most."
Postscript: Shout out to my editor who came up with the snappy line, "People follow jobs, not sidewalks." I'm jealous I didn't think of it first. I'm surprised at the reaction to this post. Then again, posts I write to provoke usually end up as duds. I touched a nerve. Interesting. Is it more the walkability issue or critically unpacking Jane Jacobs?
Theme: People follow jobs debate.
Subject Article: "Homes a Short Walk From Princeton Prove a Tough Sell."
Other Links: 1. "How to create a creative city? The viewpoints of Richard Florida and Jane Jacobs."
2. "Walk this Way:The Economic Promise of Walkable Places in Metropolitan Washington, D.C."
3. "These Are The Cities Where People Walk The Most."
Postscript: Shout out to my editor who came up with the snappy line, "People follow jobs, not sidewalks." I'm jealous I didn't think of it first. I'm surprised at the reaction to this post. Then again, posts I write to provoke usually end up as duds. I touched a nerve. Interesting. Is it more the walkability issue or critically unpacking Jane Jacobs?
Wednesday, January 22, 2014
Higher Education Is Dying
The Pittsburgh eds and meds industry has its Ph.D. in sabermetric demographics at Pacific Standard magazine.
Theme: Ironic demographics.
Subject Article: "Demographic Data Let Colleges Peer Into the Future."
Other Links: 1. "Replay: Is College Worth It?"
2. "Peter Thiel: We're in a Bubble and It's Not the Internet. It's Higher Education."
3. "Peter Thiel’s Graph of the Year."
4. "Economic Geography of Eds and Meds."
5. "Diverging Demography of Baltimore and Africa."
6. "More migration stats."
7. "Monroeville Zombies Museum Shuts Down."
Postscript: The Talent Economy is diverging. The Innovation Economy is converging. That means eds and meds are agglomerating in a few winning places. Tech is diffusing like manufacturing did before it. The cost of talent is too damn high.
Theme: Ironic demographics.
Subject Article: "Demographic Data Let Colleges Peer Into the Future."
Other Links: 1. "Replay: Is College Worth It?"
2. "Peter Thiel: We're in a Bubble and It's Not the Internet. It's Higher Education."
3. "Peter Thiel’s Graph of the Year."
4. "Economic Geography of Eds and Meds."
5. "Diverging Demography of Baltimore and Africa."
6. "More migration stats."
7. "Monroeville Zombies Museum Shuts Down."
Postscript: The Talent Economy is diverging. The Innovation Economy is converging. That means eds and meds are agglomerating in a few winning places. Tech is diffusing like manufacturing did before it. The cost of talent is too damn high.
Monday, January 20, 2014
Geography of Innovation: Why Nashville Is Music City
The sinking legend of Jane Jacobs takes on more water at Pacific Standard magazine.
Theme: Innovation geography.
Subject Article: "The Art of the Hang."
Other Links: 1. "Can you build an intersection?"
2. "A tale of two scenes: Civic capital and retaining musical talent in Toronto and Halifax."
3. "Inbreeding Homophily."
4. "Jane Jacobs Was Right: Gradual Redevelopment Does Promote Community."
Postscript: I'm anticipating I'll have to dig deeper into the notion of social capital proffered by Jane Jacobs. Via a cursory glance, reads like the same nostalgia misinforming Robert Putnam's research. I'm skeptical of the utility. It might be backwards or harmful. There is definitely a link between the urban romanticism of Jacobs and the current density fetish.
Theme: Innovation geography.
Subject Article: "The Art of the Hang."
Other Links: 1. "Can you build an intersection?"
2. "A tale of two scenes: Civic capital and retaining musical talent in Toronto and Halifax."
3. "Inbreeding Homophily."
4. "Jane Jacobs Was Right: Gradual Redevelopment Does Promote Community."
Postscript: I'm anticipating I'll have to dig deeper into the notion of social capital proffered by Jane Jacobs. Via a cursory glance, reads like the same nostalgia misinforming Robert Putnam's research. I'm skeptical of the utility. It might be backwards or harmful. There is definitely a link between the urban romanticism of Jacobs and the current density fetish.
Friday, January 17, 2014
Why Technology Firms Are Moving Downtown
Outsourcing innovation employment to recent college graduates at Pacific Standard magazine.
Theme: Convergence of Innovation Economy.
Subject Article: "Companies Say Goodbye to the 'Burbs: Young Talent Wants to Live in Chicago, Not Libertyville; Dilemma for Older Workers."
Other Links: 1. "Move to Dubuque, Not San Francisco."
2. Comment from Dave at Burgh Diaspora.
3. "Mapping Silicon Valley’s Gentrification Problem Through Corporate Shuttle Routes."
Postscript: The resonating read for today's post, "Tales from an overworked City":
Pay sky-high rent to locate in London in order to "hire" the best and brightest for a pittance. The driving logic behind the economic geography of innovation is the cost of talent.
Theme: Convergence of Innovation Economy.
Subject Article: "Companies Say Goodbye to the 'Burbs: Young Talent Wants to Live in Chicago, Not Libertyville; Dilemma for Older Workers."
Other Links: 1. "Move to Dubuque, Not San Francisco."
2. Comment from Dave at Burgh Diaspora.
3. "Mapping Silicon Valley’s Gentrification Problem Through Corporate Shuttle Routes."
Postscript: The resonating read for today's post, "Tales from an overworked City":
Competition among interns is incredibly tough, says one undergraduate who has completed a stint at a boutique bank. “Only a certain amount of interns get through. You will try to be the first one in and the last one out.” Interns, he says, will break the rules. “You want to impress.”
Moreover, an increasing number of international students is adding to the pressure: “Once they’ve got the internship they want a job in the City to get their foot in the door in London so they can get their visas. We’re competing against students from America, China and India. It’s very, very competitive.”
Pay sky-high rent to locate in London in order to "hire" the best and brightest for a pittance. The driving logic behind the economic geography of innovation is the cost of talent.
Wednesday, January 15, 2014
Move to Dubuque, Not San Francisco
Revitalization of Dubuque, Iowa is a strong indicator of the demise of the Innovation Economy at Pacific Standard magazine.
Theme: Rise of the Talent Economy.
Subject Article: "Corporate Entrepreneurs Are at the Heart of Downtown Revitalizations."
Other Links: 1. "Dubuque?"
2. "Learning from Dubuque, Iowa."
Postscript: When the cost of labor starts driving firm location decisions, the economy is dying. The Innovation Economy is dying (i.e. converging):
Like manufacturing before it, the world of innovation is getting flatter.
Theme: Rise of the Talent Economy.
Subject Article: "Corporate Entrepreneurs Are at the Heart of Downtown Revitalizations."
Other Links: 1. "Dubuque?"
2. "Learning from Dubuque, Iowa."
Postscript: When the cost of labor starts driving firm location decisions, the economy is dying. The Innovation Economy is dying (i.e. converging):
But while this geographic battle for supremacy is compelling, its effect is actually to make location less, not more, important. For instance, thanks largely to the internet itself almost everyone has access to the same information; for most people, the days of having to be close to a data centre are long gone; and investors such as us are looking globally for promising companies we can help.
While every location has its opportunities and disadvantages – it is easier to find top computer scientists in San Francisco, for instance, but easier to hold on to them in Helsinki – where you start out is no longer a helpful predictor of your chances of success. Today, the simple truth is that great companies can come from anywhere.
Like manufacturing before it, the world of innovation is getting flatter.
Tuesday, January 14, 2014
Richard Florida Explains Why Density Doesn’t Impact Innovation
The more parochial a place, the more ineffective the talent at Pacific Standard magazine.
Theme: Innovation geography.
Subject Article: "How to Build a Productive Tech Economy."
Other Links: 1. "Triumph of the Entrepreneurial City."
2. "Science: Orkney – hot spot of the Stone Age."
3. "Natural Experiments Of Rust Belt History."
4. "Urban Myths of Innovation: Density and Serendipity."
5. "Migration Matters."
6. "Are These America's Brainiest Cities?"
7. "America's Truly Densest Metros."
Postscript: In 2010, Richard Florida wrote a series about density. I'm listing them here for personal reference because I'm trying to track how this concept is changing.
"The Density of Smart People."
"The Power of Density."
"Human Capital Density."
"Creative Class Density."
"The Density of Artistic and Cultural Creatives."
"The Density of Innovation."
So there is that. From the titles alone I would infer why so many people think greater density is the cat's meow concerning innovation.It's intuitive, like greater density causes more disease. Florida expressing the density dividend in stark terms:
Peter Gordon and Sanford Ikeda tackle such claims in "Does Density Matter?"
That's hardly a definitive word on the debate, if there is a debate. Much of the density myth seems to spring forth from Jane Jacobs and her geography of innovation:
It is a utopian geography for cities: density, diversity, and authenticity. It is a certain kind of urban aesthetic that currently holds sway with policymakers thanks to the evangelizing of Richard Florida. But it isn't a rigorous analysis of the geography of innovation.
Theme: Innovation geography.
Subject Article: "How to Build a Productive Tech Economy."
Other Links: 1. "Triumph of the Entrepreneurial City."
2. "Science: Orkney – hot spot of the Stone Age."
3. "Natural Experiments Of Rust Belt History."
4. "Urban Myths of Innovation: Density and Serendipity."
5. "Migration Matters."
6. "Are These America's Brainiest Cities?"
7. "America's Truly Densest Metros."
Postscript: In 2010, Richard Florida wrote a series about density. I'm listing them here for personal reference because I'm trying to track how this concept is changing.
"The Density of Smart People."
"The Power of Density."
"Human Capital Density."
"Creative Class Density."
"The Density of Artistic and Cultural Creatives."
"The Density of Innovation."
So there is that. From the titles alone I would infer why so many people think greater density is the cat's meow concerning innovation.It's intuitive, like greater density causes more disease. Florida expressing the density dividend in stark terms:
But that was then; the economy is different now. It no longer revolves around simply making and moving things. Instead, it depends on generating and transporting ideas. The places that thrive today are those with the highest velocity of ideas, the highest density of talented and creative people, the highest rate of metabolism. Velocity and density are not words that many people use when describing the suburbs. The economy is driven by key urban areas; a different geography is required.
Peter Gordon and Sanford Ikeda tackle such claims in "Does Density Matter?"
Of course, density, as we have defined it, remains important, and the kind of face‐to‐face contact and informal network‐building described by Jacobs still serves as the foundation of living cities today, as they ever have. But relying on crude measures of density to fashion policy, whether to promote economic development in the traditional sense or to foster growth by somehow attracting “creative” denizens is unhelpful.
That's hardly a definitive word on the debate, if there is a debate. Much of the density myth seems to spring forth from Jane Jacobs and her geography of innovation:
One of Jacobs’ four prescriptions for successful cities was “the need for aged buildings.” (The others were mixed primary use neighborhoods, short blocks and density.) Maintaining a mix of older housing and commercial stock, Jacobs believed, allowed neighborhoods to retain the diversity that she valued above all else. “New ideas,” as she put it so memorably, “must use old buildings.”
It is a utopian geography for cities: density, diversity, and authenticity. It is a certain kind of urban aesthetic that currently holds sway with policymakers thanks to the evangelizing of Richard Florida. But it isn't a rigorous analysis of the geography of innovation.
Friday, January 10, 2014
Gentrification of Work in the City
How Jane Jacobs helped push employment away from the urban core at Pacific Standard magazine.
Theme: Producer city versus consumer city.
Subject Article: "The Art of Gentrification."
Other Links: 1. "Outgrowing Jane Jacobs and Her New York."
2. "Jane Jacobs, Andy Warhol, and the Kind of Problem a Community Is."
3. "We're Not in New York Anymore."
4. "Triumph of the Entrepreneurial City."
5. "Find a New City."
Postscript: The reintroduction of the producer city to San Francisco has upset the apple cart:
The tension is between workers enjoying the wages of a global labor market and the creative class that inherited the city from manufacturing. Forgotten, as usual, are residents who were unable to change with the times. Gone are the days when higher wages meant an exit from the city. The geography of aspiration has switched from suburb to downtown. This puts tech workers at odds with artists, the economically dislocated, and firms seeking a CBD address. As artists displaced the blue collar, the white collar now displaces the creative class and the ghost of Jane Jacobs is very angry.
Theme: Producer city versus consumer city.
Subject Article: "The Art of Gentrification."
Other Links: 1. "Outgrowing Jane Jacobs and Her New York."
2. "Jane Jacobs, Andy Warhol, and the Kind of Problem a Community Is."
3. "We're Not in New York Anymore."
4. "Triumph of the Entrepreneurial City."
5. "Find a New City."
Postscript: The reintroduction of the producer city to San Francisco has upset the apple cart:
Nearly five decades after the Summer of Love transformed San Francisco into the epicenter of the hippie movement, a new generation is redefining this city's culture again. No longer content to live and work in the quiet suburbs of Palo Alto and Menlo Park 30 miles south, thousands of young tech workers are migrating to the city, seeking a more urban, multicultural lifestyle. They are bringing with them a stampede of tech companies and venture capitalists, and inevitably attracting some homegrown resentment for jacking up housing costs and gentrifying once gritty neighborhoods.
The tension is between workers enjoying the wages of a global labor market and the creative class that inherited the city from manufacturing. Forgotten, as usual, are residents who were unable to change with the times. Gone are the days when higher wages meant an exit from the city. The geography of aspiration has switched from suburb to downtown. This puts tech workers at odds with artists, the economically dislocated, and firms seeking a CBD address. As artists displaced the blue collar, the white collar now displaces the creative class and the ghost of Jane Jacobs is very angry.
Thursday, January 09, 2014
Triumph of the Entrepreneurial City
Entrepreneurship is urbanity at Pacific Standard magazine.
Theme: Geography of innovation.
Subject Article: "The Future of Downtown Vegas Is Somewhere in Tony Hsieh's Apartment."
Other Links: 1. "The Metropolitan Revolution: The New Geography of Innovation."
2. "Silicon Valley Is Detroit: Are Zoning Laws to Blame?"
3. "Why Today's Start-Ups Are Choosing Urban Lofts Over Suburban Office Parks."
4. "Burbank to Brookline Soar in Suburb Shift: Real Estate."
5. "Monumental Roots: The great stone monuments of prehistoric Britain, including Stonehenge, were born in a wave of innovation that apparently began on a remote Scottish island."
6. "When Innovative Cities Were Set in Stone."
Postscript: Stonehenge not as city of innovation, but center of gravity:
If a city doesn't bring together people from the ends of the earth, then that city won't be innovative. Likewise, places other than cities can bring together people from the ends of the earth and spur innovation. All the talk about the inherently innovative city thanks to density is hogwash.
Theme: Geography of innovation.
Subject Article: "The Future of Downtown Vegas Is Somewhere in Tony Hsieh's Apartment."
Other Links: 1. "The Metropolitan Revolution: The New Geography of Innovation."
2. "Silicon Valley Is Detroit: Are Zoning Laws to Blame?"
3. "Why Today's Start-Ups Are Choosing Urban Lofts Over Suburban Office Parks."
4. "Burbank to Brookline Soar in Suburb Shift: Real Estate."
5. "Monumental Roots: The great stone monuments of prehistoric Britain, including Stonehenge, were born in a wave of innovation that apparently began on a remote Scottish island."
6. "When Innovative Cities Were Set in Stone."
Postscript: Stonehenge not as city of innovation, but center of gravity:
From all over Britain they came by the thousands, with their families, their pigs, and their cattle, to this huge complex of earthen and wooden monuments by the River Avon, known today as Durrington Walls. Inside a circular earthen bank and ditch, 500 meters in diameter, stood a smaller circle of dozens of stout, upstanding timbers. In the center, the body of a venerated chief lay in state. The pilgrims feasted to his triumphs and to his memory, roasted their cattle and their pigs, and then the procession began. ...
... Right next to Durrington Walls, excavators have found a village with a population that might have been in the thousands, with houses built in a style—including the placement of the beds and a central dresser— that apparently originated in far-off Orkney. Parker Pearson and others are confident that the people who lived there helped build the monuments, and the huge number of animal remains suggests that whoever was in charge of the vast project had to keep them well-fed. Other researchers have found that pottery from the village—manufactured in the Grooved Ware style first seen in Orkney—held rich traces of both dairy products and pig fat.
If a city doesn't bring together people from the ends of the earth, then that city won't be innovative. Likewise, places other than cities can bring together people from the ends of the earth and spur innovation. All the talk about the inherently innovative city thanks to density is hogwash.
Tuesday, January 07, 2014
Rust Belt Geography and Awful Journalism
Dying city myths at Pacific Standard magazine.
Theme: Geographic stereotypes and migration.
Subject Article: "A restaurant to fuel Rust Belt renewal."
Other Links: 1. "This is One of America's Most Violent Cities — And It Deserves More Attention."
2. "The Lowest Hanging Fruit."
3. "Portland Is Dying."
4. "'Fastest Dying Cities' Meet for a Lively Talk."
5. "Braddock mythos redux."
6. "Braddock Misunderstood."
7. "Picture Show: Urban Decay and Renewal in Braddock, Pennsylvania."
Postscript: Chris Briem (Null Space) also blogged about "A restaurant to fuel Rust Belt renewal." Where the attention belongs:
How should a journalist raise concerns about Rust Belt community struggles? I'm not all that concerned about the hype. For the most part, it is harmless and might do some good. As for the problems, they remain ill-defined and unsolvable as a result. And that goes for the restaurant venture as well. What problem does it address? I think we have skipped over the step of establishing a working baseline geography and thus the facts are made to fit the popular narrative. Braddock drowns in the hell that has become much of Rust Belt coverage in the press.
Theme: Geographic stereotypes and migration.
Subject Article: "A restaurant to fuel Rust Belt renewal."
Other Links: 1. "This is One of America's Most Violent Cities — And It Deserves More Attention."
2. "The Lowest Hanging Fruit."
3. "Portland Is Dying."
4. "'Fastest Dying Cities' Meet for a Lively Talk."
5. "Braddock mythos redux."
6. "Braddock Misunderstood."
7. "Picture Show: Urban Decay and Renewal in Braddock, Pennsylvania."
Postscript: Chris Briem (Null Space) also blogged about "A restaurant to fuel Rust Belt renewal." Where the attention belongs:
I will only add one statistics for those who really want to claim there has been progress in Braddock of late. The latest poverty statistics released last month* show that the overall poverty rate of Braddock residents is 39.9% and for children under 18 no less than 66.2%.
How should a journalist raise concerns about Rust Belt community struggles? I'm not all that concerned about the hype. For the most part, it is harmless and might do some good. As for the problems, they remain ill-defined and unsolvable as a result. And that goes for the restaurant venture as well. What problem does it address? I think we have skipped over the step of establishing a working baseline geography and thus the facts are made to fit the popular narrative. Braddock drowns in the hell that has become much of Rust Belt coverage in the press.
Monday, December 30, 2013
Suburban Sprawl Spurs Innovation
Want diversity and creativity? Moving to the suburbs at Pacific Standard magazine.
Theme: Innovation geography.
Subject Article: "The Young, the Restless and Economic Growth: Countries with a younger population have far higher rates of entrepreneurship."
Other Links: 1. "My Own Private Metropolis."
2. "The artsy pulse of a city: The beat is moving to the burbs."
3. "Urban Minor Leagues of Globalization."
4. "Every Artist's Studio Is a Future High End Rental."
Postscript: Saint of Urbanity, Jane Jacobs once wrote, “Old ideas can sometimes use new buildings. New ideas must use old buildings." Cities with good bones and the right density are centers of innovation. Jacobs privileges place over people. The diffusion of knowledge and subsequent innovation are considerably less romantic. People move and share ideas. City or suburb, old or new building, only migration matters.
Theme: Innovation geography.
Subject Article: "The Young, the Restless and Economic Growth: Countries with a younger population have far higher rates of entrepreneurship."
Other Links: 1. "My Own Private Metropolis."
2. "The artsy pulse of a city: The beat is moving to the burbs."
3. "Urban Minor Leagues of Globalization."
4. "Every Artist's Studio Is a Future High End Rental."
Postscript: Saint of Urbanity, Jane Jacobs once wrote, “Old ideas can sometimes use new buildings. New ideas must use old buildings." Cities with good bones and the right density are centers of innovation. Jacobs privileges place over people. The diffusion of knowledge and subsequent innovation are considerably less romantic. People move and share ideas. City or suburb, old or new building, only migration matters.
Saturday, December 28, 2013
Urban Minor Leagues of Globalization
Fleeing alpha global cities for more innovative geographies at Pacific Standard magazine.
Theme: Convergence of the Innovation Economy.
Subject Article: "The Metro Areas With The Most Economic Momentum Going Into 2014."
Other Links: 1. "Displacing Education as the Most Important Asset for 21st Century City Growth."
2. "Economy, opportunity thinning restaurants' supply of cooks."
3. "Portland Restaurants, Tech Cafeterias Are Eating Up All Of S.F.'s Cooks."
4. "The artsy pulse of a city: The beat is moving to the burbs."
5. "My Own Private Metropolis."
Postscript: I often meander away from a post title, which isn't a problem. Just change the title to capture the emergent theme before clicking publish. I forgot to do that. No matter since this one post has two themes going on. The first part is how globalization is moving down the urban hierarchy (e.g. from San Francisco to Portland). The second part is how innovation and creativity are moving from the urban core to the suburbs, a reconfiguration of economic geography similar to that of restaurant talent moving from DC to Pittsburgh. I intend to take on that second theme more thoroughly in my next blog post using this article as the subject, "The Young, the Restless and Economic Growth: Countries with a younger population have far higher rates of entrepreneurship." The positive correlation between a younger population and more entrepreneurship makes the same mistake as those who emphasize the positive correlation between greater urban density and more innovation. Both perspectives overlook the impact of migration itself on creativity.
Theme: Convergence of the Innovation Economy.
Subject Article: "The Metro Areas With The Most Economic Momentum Going Into 2014."
Other Links: 1. "Displacing Education as the Most Important Asset for 21st Century City Growth."
2. "Economy, opportunity thinning restaurants' supply of cooks."
3. "Portland Restaurants, Tech Cafeterias Are Eating Up All Of S.F.'s Cooks."
4. "The artsy pulse of a city: The beat is moving to the burbs."
5. "My Own Private Metropolis."
Postscript: I often meander away from a post title, which isn't a problem. Just change the title to capture the emergent theme before clicking publish. I forgot to do that. No matter since this one post has two themes going on. The first part is how globalization is moving down the urban hierarchy (e.g. from San Francisco to Portland). The second part is how innovation and creativity are moving from the urban core to the suburbs, a reconfiguration of economic geography similar to that of restaurant talent moving from DC to Pittsburgh. I intend to take on that second theme more thoroughly in my next blog post using this article as the subject, "The Young, the Restless and Economic Growth: Countries with a younger population have far higher rates of entrepreneurship." The positive correlation between a younger population and more entrepreneurship makes the same mistake as those who emphasize the positive correlation between greater urban density and more innovation. Both perspectives overlook the impact of migration itself on creativity.
Friday, December 27, 2013
Epidemiology of the Knowledge Virus
Effective distance matters more than density and proximity for innovation at Pacific Standard magazine.
Theme: Geography of innovation.
Subject Article: "How Connectedness—Not Distance—Predicts the Spread of a Pandemic."
Other Links: 1. "The Spaces and Times of Globalization: Place, Scale, Networks, and Positionality."
2. "Why Apple’s Suburban Spaceship Could Lose the War for Tech Talent."
3. "Do Jobs Follow People or Do People Follow Jobs?"
4. "The Small Social Networks at the Heart of Chicago Violence: If you run with a bad crowd, statistically speaking, you’ll get in trouble."
5. "Urban Myths of Innovation: Density and Serendipity."
6. "Birthplace Diversity and Economic Prosperity."
7. "Churn Types Defined."
Postscript: The blog post should have been much better. Relating the social network geography of crime to innovation works. But I dropped the ball explaining the links. The article about crime deserves its own spotlight. More social capital begets more crime and less innovation. Less social capital begets less crime and more innovation.
Theme: Geography of innovation.
Subject Article: "How Connectedness—Not Distance—Predicts the Spread of a Pandemic."
Other Links: 1. "The Spaces and Times of Globalization: Place, Scale, Networks, and Positionality."
2. "Why Apple’s Suburban Spaceship Could Lose the War for Tech Talent."
3. "Do Jobs Follow People or Do People Follow Jobs?"
4. "The Small Social Networks at the Heart of Chicago Violence: If you run with a bad crowd, statistically speaking, you’ll get in trouble."
5. "Urban Myths of Innovation: Density and Serendipity."
6. "Birthplace Diversity and Economic Prosperity."
7. "Churn Types Defined."
Postscript: The blog post should have been much better. Relating the social network geography of crime to innovation works. But I dropped the ball explaining the links. The article about crime deserves its own spotlight. More social capital begets more crime and less innovation. Less social capital begets less crime and more innovation.
Thursday, December 26, 2013
San Francisco's Fortress Against Gentrification
Increasing the supply of housing makes gentrification worse at Pacific Standard magazine.
Theme: Ironic demographics.
Subject Article: "Arise, Tenderloin: It is San Francisco’s most glaring contradiction, an island of need in a sea of prosperity. Can it be helped? Does it even want to be?"
Other Links: 1. "'Cool Gray City of Love,' by Gary Kamiya."
2. "Soaring rents force lifestyle changes."
3. "Move Silicon Valley to Cleveland."
4. "Of Course Uber Should Be Regulated."
Postscript: From the subject article, a possible link between government engineered gentrification and the reduction of crime:
Emphasis added. That neatly sums up former NYC mayor, Rudy Giuliani's method of cleaning up the city. He got rid of the red light district Times Square, gentrifying the neighborhood for tourists. Chicago's mayor (Rahm Emanuel) is following the same script, knowing that going after the suspects is pointless. Emanuel will help other parts of his city gentrify as a solution to the crime problem.
Theme: Ironic demographics.
Subject Article: "Arise, Tenderloin: It is San Francisco’s most glaring contradiction, an island of need in a sea of prosperity. Can it be helped? Does it even want to be?"
Other Links: 1. "'Cool Gray City of Love,' by Gary Kamiya."
2. "Soaring rents force lifestyle changes."
3. "Move Silicon Valley to Cleveland."
4. "Of Course Uber Should Be Regulated."
Postscript: From the subject article, a possible link between government engineered gentrification and the reduction of crime:
To explain the unique policing challenge posed by the Tenderloin, Cherniss cites an analytical framework used by criminologists: the so-called crime triangle, which posits that crimes have three components—suspect, location, and victim. In the Tenderloin, “going after the suspects is pointless,” he says. “I need to get rid of the location to solve the problem.”
Emphasis added. That neatly sums up former NYC mayor, Rudy Giuliani's method of cleaning up the city. He got rid of the red light district Times Square, gentrifying the neighborhood for tourists. Chicago's mayor (Rahm Emanuel) is following the same script, knowing that going after the suspects is pointless. Emanuel will help other parts of his city gentrify as a solution to the crime problem.
Tuesday, December 24, 2013
Silicon Cleveland, Where the Rent Isn't Too Damn High
Innovation has already abandoned Silicon Valley at Pacific Standard magazine.
Theme: Convergence of the Innovation Economy.
Subject Article: "Some Further Thoughts on Moving Silicon Valley to Cleveland."
Other Links: 1. "Rust Belt of Silicon Valley: San Jose Is Dying."
2. "A Creative Comeback in the Big Easy."
3. "A Snowier Silicon Valley in BlackBerry’s Backyard."
4. "Midsize Cities in Poland Develop as Service Hubs for Outsourcing Industry."
Postscript While the move of Silicon Valley to Cleveland got the blog post spotlight, economic convergence in Poland was the star:
For me, Poland has been a bellwether for the convergence of the Innovation Economy. Dell moved operations from Limerick, Ireland to Lodz, Poland. Ireland itself is a hot spot of economic convergence. The competition for talent is fierce with more places competing for a piece of the innovation pie. The salary ask for employees in alpha global cities is too damn high.
Theme: Convergence of the Innovation Economy.
Subject Article: "Some Further Thoughts on Moving Silicon Valley to Cleveland."
Other Links: 1. "Rust Belt of Silicon Valley: San Jose Is Dying."
2. "A Creative Comeback in the Big Easy."
3. "A Snowier Silicon Valley in BlackBerry’s Backyard."
4. "Midsize Cities in Poland Develop as Service Hubs for Outsourcing Industry."
Postscript While the move of Silicon Valley to Cleveland got the blog post spotlight, economic convergence in Poland was the star:
In fact, Lodz, a former textile manufacturing center with a population of about 740,000, is just one of several Polish cities that have become service hubs for an international corporate clientele that values Poland’s well-educated and often multilingual work force.
In midsize cities like Wroclaw and Gdansk, Poles are doing back-office work not only for Indian outsourcing companies like Infosys, Wipro and Tata Consulting Services, but also for major corporations like IBM and banks including Citigroup and Bank of New York Mellon.
About 110,000 people work in what is broadly known as the business services industry in Poland. The category includes outsourcers like Infosys that take over such functions as finance or information technology for customers, as well as banks and other companies that set up in-house operations to do their own back-office work.
For me, Poland has been a bellwether for the convergence of the Innovation Economy. Dell moved operations from Limerick, Ireland to Lodz, Poland. Ireland itself is a hot spot of economic convergence. The competition for talent is fierce with more places competing for a piece of the innovation pie. The salary ask for employees in alpha global cities is too damn high.
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