Discussion Question #4

So, I could not do a YouTube video lecture yesterday--I fell victim to a nasty migraine headache.  This has not been a good term as far as my health is concerned.  Oh well.  At least I have not had to cancel any class yet.
Anyway, I was all set with my talking points and to record a video from my office on campus.  But, guess what?  I didn't bring with me the Bluetooth gadget ..... aaaaaaahhhh!!!! 

Chapters 6 and 7 are discussions on many interesting aspects of urban economic georgaphy--you know, the kind of topics that keep me going on and on. 
DO NOT worry about the differences in the urban models that are discussed there. But, I want you to get a feel for how we might reduce the complex world to models.  Obviously, when we reduce the complexities of the world to simpler models, well, we have to sacrifice on nuances--which is the reason why we then have competing models.

I would like you to make sure you understand the importance of the following concepts, at least:

• The importance of human talent in modern economic georgaphy
• Flexibility of production
• Agglomeration economies (urbanization and localization economies)
  
• The Rust Belt
• The Central Business District (CBD) and suburbs

Now, after reading up the chapters and having an understanding of the concepts I have listed, you might probably wonder whether all these are strictly academic concepts that pointy-headed intellectuals worry about in their free time, or whether they actually have real world implications. 

So, I want you to have an opportunity to check it out for yourself, which is where DQ #4 comes in.
Read this article by Richard Florida.  Don't worry--it is a very, very, very, short piece :-) 
After reading the article, think about the article with respect to the concepts that I asked you to focus on--the previous bullet list.

Your task for DQ#4:

Take up any one of those concepts and test that against Florida's arguments--does Florida's essay validate those concepts?  Contradict those concepts?  ....

Your response does not have to be about each and every one of those concepts--focusing on one of them is all you need to do.  Which also then means that later responses should either be about the uncovered concepts or should continue with the conversation with richer details and arguments.

Let me know if I have not presented the task clearly enough.