With research to back the notion that a city's Creative Class has a direct correlation to its economic success, Richard Florida's book turns traditional notions of urban development upside down.
Florida's Creative Index measures an area's creative strength and potential, and is determined by a mix of factors: the percentage of Creative Class members in a city's work force, the High-Tech Index, the Innovation Index and the Diversity Index. With a score of 909, Phoenix ranked 19th among major U.S. regions, and 22nd overall. "What Phoenix can do is become more of itself," Florida says. "There's an attempt to make it generic. But you have this amazing desert, and an amazing range of architecture. You're much better off focusing on the small, everyday things like restaurants and places to walk your dog. Things you can do 365 days a year."
Thanks to Katherine Coles Wisehart
Read the full story: Creative Class Act: Richard Florida knows exactly what's wrong with Phoenix
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Rutgers University, Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy
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