Feedback on DQ#4, and more--version 2.0

Hey, I had to edit/re-send this because the earlier one got all garbled because of the video that I had embedded there :-(
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It was absolutely disappointing to read this morning about the USC Trojans' loss.  But, I am sure all will be well come August.  Wondering what I am talking about? Wonder no more :-)

For DQ#4, I wanted you to focus on a few concepts:

• 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

Thanks to Ashley's response, where she notes that Florida is himself the source for Table 7.3--Software workers in metro areas.  To quote Johnny Carson, "I did not know that!" :-) So, yes, that alone makes a convincing argument that Florida's essay that I had assigned will, after all, be consistent with the arguments in the text regarding the concepts.
BTW, please do not feel slighted if I do not quote from your responses.  It is just that I want to make sure I am able to tell a story before I lose the audience.  What?  Don't leave.  Sit down. :-)

Now, Jessica writes,

Without Western, and the creative and intellectual draw that comes with being a university town, Monmouth would be a sleepy little place with a gas station as a stopping point

Yes, and no.  It is certainly the case that the university is pretty much THE reason for the local economy.  But, our challenge is the same as that of OSU, UO, .....  Which is, such a presence of a knowledge-producing place, and the agglomeration of a highly qualified labor force has not resulted in the kind of large-scale economic transformations that have happened in the San Francisco Bay area, or in Austin, or in North Carolina's "Research Triangle" .....

In other words, we can see a distinction between necessary and sufficient conditions.  A highly qualified youthful labor force is necessary for an area to undergo economic transformation, but that alone is not sufficient.  You probably then want to ask me why we are unable to produce that kind of an effect in Oregon, and what it will take to transform Oregon's sluggish economy.  That is a gazillion dollar question for which if I knew THE reason, well, I will be one rich dude!

Are you still with me?  Hey, I said sit down!!! :-)

Many of you (plug in your name here) pointed out that these geographic and economic transformations point to the "evolution" from a manufacturing-based economy to a very different kind now that seems to involve lots of intangibles.  Yes, true.  And it is also because of the lots of intangibles that Florida focuses what he refers to as the "Creative Class" and which has also received a lot of criticism. 

Now, as much as there is a wonderful circular/cumulative causation that brings together all these concepts, well, we need to keep in mind that these same forces can also come together for everything to unravel really rapidly.  I hate to give away the stories that we will look at the end of this course; so, I will provide you additional stuff!
A recent article--I read this early this morning; that recent--I came across a fascinating exploration of Detroit in a manner that I hadn't thought before.  Now, even in your responses some of you (again, plug your name here) referred to Detroit--how the decline of the auto industry has affected the population and economics of the area.  Well, the writer of this article refers to a "feral Detroit":

in rapidly shrinking Detroit, where tens of thousands of structures have sat empty for years, people are starting to describe houses and neighborhoods as feral—that is, as places where human activity ceased so long ago that nature has reclaimed them.

Read it--a short piece it is--and you will see how everything we have discussed over the last five weeks comes together in a very Halloweenish manner.  The article has a link to this collection of photos that tell stories on how nature is reclaiming Detroit.  Share it with friends and family at Thanksgiving--it will surely generate enough discussions for everybody to forget all about the football games on TV!

Yes, as always, I welcome your rejoinders.  My plans are to do a YouTube clip later today.