As the automotive industry takes a deep hit during the current economic recession, many tie the Detroit's hopes to those of the auto industry. But Richard Florida argues Detroit needs to think beyond the car business.
"Michigan has the country's highest jobless rate, 12.6 percent. Detroit's unemployment rate is even higher that that. But all may not be lost for the city that gave birth to the Model-T and Motown. If, says Richard Florida, the city and the region can move past the auto industry."
"...Right now, according to Florida, people are simply focusing on the wrong thing."
"'I know in this time of economic crisis people are saying where are the jobs going to come from. And clearly there has to be a focus on providing good work. But at the same time, it's not just about attracting companies and firms and jobs, it has to be about retaining and attracting and motivating people,' he cautions."
"So how does a city like Detroit, or even a state like Michigan do this? Florida offers what he admits may seem like a strange idea in the middle of these troubled times."
"'Instead of bailing out the auto firms, and giving industrial incentives to companies that are going to try and come and create low skill dead end jobs, why not use that same money to enable business start ups?'"
FULL STORY: Scholar: It's Time For The Post-Automotive Era
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City of Albany
UCLA Lewis Center for Regional Policy Studies
Mpact (formerly Rail~Volution)
Chaddick Institute at DePaul University
City of Piedmont, CA
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research