TY - JOUR
T1 - Different Creative Cities
T2 - Exploring Danish Data to Adapt the Creative Class Argument to Small Welfare Economies
AU - Lorenzen, Mark
AU - Vaarst Andersen, Kristina
PY - 2012
Y1 - 2012
N2 - This article uses a mixed-method study of Denmark to investigate whether and how Richard Florida's creative class theory should be adapted to small welfare economies. First, we carry out an econometric analyses showing that like in North America, the Danish creative class propels economic growth and exhibits a tendency of congregating in major cities with diverse service and cultural offers and tolerance to non-mainstream lifestyles. However, we find that a range of smaller Danish cities also attract the creative class. Second, we undertake qualitative interviews that facilitate theory building. We suggest that many creatives are attracted by the smaller cities' cost advantages, specialized job offers, attractive work/life balances, and authenticity and sense of community. The article synthesizes its results into four stylized types of creative cities, and concludes by discussing the policy challenges associated with these different cities.
AB - This article uses a mixed-method study of Denmark to investigate whether and how Richard Florida's creative class theory should be adapted to small welfare economies. First, we carry out an econometric analyses showing that like in North America, the Danish creative class propels economic growth and exhibits a tendency of congregating in major cities with diverse service and cultural offers and tolerance to non-mainstream lifestyles. However, we find that a range of smaller Danish cities also attract the creative class. Second, we undertake qualitative interviews that facilitate theory building. We suggest that many creatives are attracted by the smaller cities' cost advantages, specialized job offers, attractive work/life balances, and authenticity and sense of community. The article synthesizes its results into four stylized types of creative cities, and concludes by discussing the policy challenges associated with these different cities.
KW - clusters
KW - welfare economy
KW - Services
KW - cultural offer
KW - creative class
KW - creative city types
U2 - 10.1386/cij.4.2.123_1
DO - 10.1386/cij.4.2.123_1
M3 - Journal article
SN - 1751-0694
VL - 4
SP - 123
EP - 136
JO - Creative Industries Journal
JF - Creative Industries Journal
IS - 1
ER -