(Community Matters) originally posted May 2008, but it seems to want to be discussed again:
Richard Florida in his new book, Who’s Your City:
America’s psychogeography lines up reasonably well with its economic geography. Greater Chicago is a center for extroverts and also a leading center for sales professionals. The Midwest, long a center for the manufacturing industry, has a prevalence of conscientious types who work well in a structured, rule-driven
environment. The South, and particularly the I-75 corridor, where so much Japanese and German car manufacturing is located, is dominated by agreeable and conscientious types who are both dutiful and work well in teams.
The Northeast corridor, including Greater Boston, as well as San Francisco, Los Angeles, Seattle, and Austin, are home to concentrations of open-to-experience types who are drawn to creative endeavor, innovation, and entrepreneurial start-up companies. While it is hard to identify which came first – was it an initial concentration of personality types that drew industry, or the industry which attracted the personalities? – the overlay is clear.
Understanding regional personality types can add to our understanding of what makes regional development tick. Economists argue that technology (in the form of great universities and high-tech company clusters) and human capital (talented people) drive economic growth. But psychologists would add that in addition to skills, talent, motivation, and resources, there are personality traits and psychological capital that predispose people toward certain talents and proclivities.
Article here
Richard’s the author of two bestsellers, The Rise of the Creative Class and The Flight of the Creative Class. Steven and I got to know Richard during the 360 Summits. In fact, one of Steven’s monologues is included in The Rise of the Creative Class. Richard and his wife, Rana, now live in Washington, D.C.
Hat Tip: Andrew
Community Matters 