Review of Richard Florida’s The Rise of the Creative Class By Edward L. Glaeser Richard Florida’s The Rise of the Creative Class is not some mere research monograph, consigned to be read by the author’s wife (under duress) and his six closest colleagues (if he’s lucky). Florida’s book is a bestseller. It has a snazzy website. It has become the hot book among urban policy-makers. Indeed, there is little question that Florida’s book has become the most popular book on regional economies over the past decade. Florida’s basic thesis is that the economy is transforming, and creativity is to the 21st century what the ability to push a plow was to the 18th century. Creative occupations are growing and firms now orient themselves to attract the creative. Employers ow prod their hires onto greater bursts of inspiration. The urban lesson of Florida’s book is that cities that want to succeed must aim at attracting the creative types who are, Florida argues, the wave of the future. ...