It's The Middle Class, Not The Creative Class

"Cities have always served many functions: as centers of religion, political power, and commerce. But one of their most important tasks has been to serve as engines of upward mobility and aspiration. Nowhere has this been more true than in American cities."

"Sadly, in recent decades, this notion of cities as mechanisms for upward mobility has broken down. Many cities, rather than trying to uplift their working class and nurture a middle class, have chosen to concentrate on "luring" the affluent, the hip, and the young as their primary development strategy."

While booming cities of the sunbelt – such as Houston, Orlando, Charlotte, Phoenix and Las Vegas – are widely criticized for their sprawling landscapes and 'un-hip' image, Kotkin makes the case that these are the only cities that are providing opportunity for economic mobility for the middle class.

Rather than attempt to emulate the coastal 'boutique cities' -- which are increasingly only home to the wealthy elite and the low wage workers who serve them -- cities intent on urban revitalization should strive to attract the middle class by focusing on the basics -- affordable housing, good schools, and efficient infrastructure.

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