Measuring Quality Of Life

The Economist examines the economic and quality-of-life impacts of the dot-com boom on California's Bay Area.

1 minute read

September 3, 2002, 11:00 AM PDT

By Chris Steins @planetizen


"Quality-of-life issues are always hard to measure. But economists have begun to put some numbers on the region's bohemian flair. According to a recent study by Richard Florida of Carnegie Mellon University, there is a close correlation between a region's openness to artists and its prosperity. A large and visible population of creative types—and of homosexuals, according to Mr Florida—points to a tolerant and diverse society of the sort that appeals to the wider class of knowledge-workers who drive modern economies. San Francisco, with its hippies, poets and large gay population, topped Mr Florida's rankings of American cities for overall creativity."

Thanks to Chris Steins

Thursday, August 1, 2002 in The Economist

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