Big City, Big Ideas: Why Creativity Is the New Economy

Regions are becoming more specialized in economic activity, creating a global battle for talent. Combining in-depth analysis, cutting-edge trends, compelling personal stories and a touch of humour, Dr. Richard Florida presents his insights into how creativity and the Creative Class are revolutionizing the global economy during a time of “Great Reset.” Looking toward the future, Florida identifies the patterns that will drive the next Great Reset and transform virtually every aspect of our lives-from how and where we live, to how we work, to how we invest in individuals and infrastructure, to how we shape our cities and regions. He shows how these forces, when combined, will spur a fresh era of growth and prosperity, define a new geography of progress, and create surprising opportunities for all of us. He takes a deeper look at the forces reshaping our economy, giving us a provocative new way to think about why we live as we do—and where we might be headed. Florida uses lessons from the last ten years to show how Creative Class theory has grown from a prediction to a prescription for an economy in turmoil, outlining the need for a Creative Compact—a new social compact that can put us back on the path to economic growth.

SPEAKER

Dr. Richard Florida is the Director of the Martin Prosperity Institute at the University of Toronto’s Rotman School of Management, Global Research Professor at New York University, and the founder of the Creative Class Group, which works closely with governments and companies worldwide. He is perhaps the world’s leading urbanist, “as close to a household name as it is possible for an urban theorist to be in America,” according to The Economist. Esquire has included him on its annual list of “The Best and the Brightest,” and Fast Company dubbed him an “intellectual rock star.” MIT Technology Review recently named him one of the world’s most influential thinkers. Florida is the author of several global best sellers, including the award-winning The Rise of the Creative Class (“one of the best business books of all time”—800-CEO-READ), and is a senior editor for The Atlantic, where he co-founded and serves as Editor-at-Large for Atlantic Cities, the world’s leading media site devoted to cities and urban affairs. Florida appears regularly on CNN and other news broadcasts, and is a regular contributor to the op ed pages of major newspapers and magazines. TIME magazine recognized his Twitter feed as one of the 140 most influential in the world. Florida previously taught at Carnegie Mellon and George Mason University, and has been a visiting professor at Harvard and MIT. He earned his Bachelor’s degree from Rutgers College, and his Ph.D. from Columbia University.

Toronto is a big city in need of big ideas. On November 4^th, IMFG and its partners presented the first talk in the 2013-14 “Big City, Big Ideas” lecture series with speaker Richard Florida, entitled “Why Creativity Is the New Economy.” Big City: Big Ideas is a public lecture series being held at the University of Toronto that features global leaders in urban and regional planning, policy, and finance. Attendees will be inspired by some of the brightest minds working on the development, sustainability, and liveability of cities today.