| By: |
Zoltan J. Acs (George Mason University; Max Planck Institute of Economics, Jena, Germany);
Monika I. Megyesi (University of Baltimore) |
| Abstract: |
Creativity is changing the way cities approach economic development and
formulate policy. Creative metropolises base their economic development
strategies, at least partly, on building communities attractive to the
creative class worker. While there are countless examples of high-tech regions
transforming into creative economies, traditionally industrial cities have
received much less attention in this regard. This research draws on Baltimore
to assess the potential of transforming a traditionally industrial region into
a creative economy. It analyses Baltimore's performance on dimensions of
talent, tolerance, technology, and territory both as a stand-alone
metropolitan area and in comparison to similar industrial metropolises. Using
data from the US Census Bureau and research on creativity measures, this case
study concludes that Baltimore has the opportunity to capitalize on the
creative economy because of its openness to diversity, established technology
base, and appealing territorial amenities. An important consideration in the
transformation towards a creative economy is Baltimore's geographic proximity
and access to the largest reservoir of creative talent in the US: Washington,
DC. |
| Keywords: |
creativity, creative class, creativity index, creative cities, talent, technology, tolerance, territory, bohemian index, gay index, old industrial cities, Baltimore, economic development, economic growth, entrepreneurship |
| JEL: |
D64 M13 M14 |
| Date: |
2007–07–02 |
| URL: |
http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:jrp:jrpwrp:2007-024&r=cul |