Is there creative life further Is there creative life further than the big cities?than the big cities?

Joan Ganau Joan Ganau Universitat de Lleida (Spain)Universitat de Lleida (Spain)

UNESCO Chair on “Intermediate cities, urbanization and development”UNESCO Chair on “Intermediate cities, urbanization and development”

IGU Urban Commission MeetingIGU Urban Commission Meeting

Canterbury, 15th August 2011Canterbury, 15th August 2011

Challenges for Medium-sized and Small Challenges for Medium-sized and Small Cities in a Globalised EconomyCities in a Globalised Economy

Is there creative life further than the big cities?Is there creative life further than the big cities?

1.1. Geography matters. Cities, regions and the creative Geography matters. Cities, regions and the creative economy: spiky of flat world?economy: spiky of flat world?

2.2. What opportunities and challenges for intermediate What opportunities and challenges for intermediate cities?cities?

3.3. Final reflexionsFinal reflexions

1. World PopulationR. Florida (2008)

1. From a flat world to a spiky world?1. From a flat world to a spiky world?

2. Economic activityR. Florida (2008)

1. From a flat world to a spiky world?1. From a flat world to a spiky world?

3. InnovationR. Florida (2008)

1. From a flat world to a spiky world?1. From a flat world to a spiky world?

a) Spike US

R. Florida (2008)

1. From a flat world to a spiky world?1. From a flat world to a spiky world?

b) Spiky China

R. Florida (2008)

1. From a flat world to a spiky world?1. From a flat world to a spiky world?

c) Spiky Europe

R. Florida (2008)

1. From a flat world to a spiky world?1. From a flat world to a spiky world?

?

? ??

?

?

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?R. Florida (2008)

1. From a flat world to a spiky world?1. From a flat world to a spiky world?

d) Metropolitan regions in Europe

Is there only a peak-valleys question?

What future for these “valleys”?

12 metropolitan regions

$5.000 billion

260 million of people

2. Intermediate cities: opportunities and challenges2. Intermediate cities: opportunities and challenges

1.1. The comparative advantages of large citiesThe comparative advantages of large cities

More diversity of job opportunitiesMore diversity of job opportunities

Cultural Cultural scale economiesscale economies

MilieuMilieu creative and innovation. creative and innovation.

Business climateBusiness climate

Capitalism principle: Capitalism principle: big is betterbig is better

2. Intermediate cities: opportunities and challenges2. Intermediate cities: opportunities and challenges

2.2. Why small and medium-sized cities?Why small and medium-sized cities?

Intermediate cities as a conceptIntermediate cities as a concept

Increasing international interest in the future of these citiesIncreasing international interest in the future of these cities

Reactions to the changes of different cities:Reactions to the changes of different cities:

What about me?What about me?

Me too!Me too!

Why me not?Why me not?

2. 2. Intermediate cities: opportunities and challengesIntermediate cities: opportunities and challenges

3.3. Factors influencing the potential of intermediate citiesFactors influencing the potential of intermediate cities

1.1. Population size. Population size. Difference with Industrial Revolution: in the informational economy, Difference with Industrial Revolution: in the informational economy,

there is not population growth of small citiesthere is not population growth of small cities

Contradiction between European guidelines about polycentric Contradiction between European guidelines about polycentric spatial structure and realities of global citiesspatial structure and realities of global cities

2.2. City functions and territories (size, dynamism…)City functions and territories (size, dynamism…)

3.3. Economic background (industry…)Economic background (industry…)

4.4. Location in relation with large metropolitan areas (distance Location in relation with large metropolitan areas (distance and accessibility)and accessibility)

5.5. Availability of servicesAvailability of services

K. Kunzmann (2009)

Location in relation with large metropolitan areasLocation in relation with large metropolitan areas

2. 2. Intermediate cities: opportunities and challengesIntermediate cities: opportunities and challenges

WeaknessWeakness• Less dynamismLess dynamism• Lack of opportunities for qualified Lack of opportunities for qualified

jobsjobs• Difficulties to attract and retain Difficulties to attract and retain

“talent”“talent”• No economies of agglomerationNo economies of agglomeration

OpportunitiesOpportunities• Increasing “metropolisation” (changes in communications…)Increasing “metropolisation” (changes in communications…)• Profit the cultural capital, heritage and existing traditionsProfit the cultural capital, heritage and existing traditions• Planning strategies and involvement of city societyPlanning strategies and involvement of city society• Changing old dynamics from existing traditionsChanging old dynamics from existing traditions• Networking with other cities to collaborate and generate economies of scaleNetworking with other cities to collaborate and generate economies of scale• Universities, colleges… as important part to creating and attracting talentUniversities, colleges… as important part to creating and attracting talent

StrengthsStrengths• Housing pricesHousing prices• More possibility of social cohesionMore possibility of social cohesion• Richer “social capital”Richer “social capital”• No formal social relation networks No formal social relation networks

(more dense and fluid)(more dense and fluid)• Quality of life and sustainabilityQuality of life and sustainability• Place Identity, sense of communityPlace Identity, sense of community

2. 2. Intermediate cities: opportunities and challengesIntermediate cities: opportunities and challenges

3. Final reflexions3. Final reflexions

1.1. Changing the scope, the focus of the lens. We need new Changing the scope, the focus of the lens. We need new spectacles to watch different realities… spectacles to watch different realities…

2.2. Problems of scale analysis: new items, indexes… Problems of scale analysis: new items, indexes…

3.3. Competition /vs collaboration between towns. Create Competition /vs collaboration between towns. Create networks of citiesnetworks of cities

4.4. Creativity is not a zero sum game.Creativity is not a zero sum game. Education as a key factor. Creativity is a Education as a key factor. Creativity is a renewable resource. It is renewable resource. It is possible to “create creative people”possible to “create creative people”

Pay more attention to young people (there are the future innovation-Pay more attention to young people (there are the future innovation-creativity)creativity)

5.5. Public cultural policies to improve regional development:Public cultural policies to improve regional development:

Culture and social aims: social cohesion, quality of life, Culture and social aims: social cohesion, quality of life, multicutural communities…multicutural communities…

Culture as production /vs consumption (cultural and creative Culture as production /vs consumption (cultural and creative industries…)industries…)

Tourism and creativity? A sustainable pattern of development Tourism and creativity? A sustainable pattern of development growth)growth)

Cultural industries: return of industrial activity within townsCultural industries: return of industrial activity within towns

6.6. Geography matters… size matters too!Geography matters… size matters too!

3. Final reflexions3. Final reflexions