Bigcitiesarevibranthubsforcultureandindustry,ordirty,congested,impersonalcrime-riddenwarrens.Astheworldpopulationsurpassessevenbillion,economists,environmentalistsandsocialscientistsarerethinkingtheroleofthecityinglobalsociety.EconomistEdwardGlaeserbelievescitiesarethebestplacestolive."Citiesaresofascinatingbecausetheyplaytomankind'sgreatestgift,whichisourabilitytolearnfromotherpeople."Sinceancienttimes,hesays,citieshaveattractedsmartpeopleandenabledthemtoworkcollaborativelytoadvancesociety.Butitwasn'talwaysasmoothroad."Inthe1970s,itlookedasifglobalization,newtechnologiesandthedeathofdistancewasmakingouroldercitiesobsolete.Afterall,thegarmentindustrywasfleeingNewYork.ItlookedlikehistoryitselfwastellingNewYorkCitytodropdead."Overthepastthreedecadesmanycitieshavebeenrevitalized,notjustdespiteglobalizationandnewtechnologies,but,asGlaeserexplains,becauseofthem."Whatthesenewforceshavedoneisthey'veincreasedthereturnstonewideas,tobeingsmart.Because,nowifyougotanewidea,youcanmanufactureitontheothersideoftheplanet.YoucantakeadvantageofsomenewmarketopportunityinIndiaorIndonesiaorSub-SaharanAfrica.Thesetrendshavealsomadecitiesmoreimportantbecausecitiesareattheirhearttoday,enginesofinnovations,forgersofhumancapital."Inanewbook,"TriumphoftheCity,"GlaesertakesaworldtourofurbansuccessstoriesfromBostonandLondon,toTokyo,BangaloreandKinshasa.Heexplainshowcitiesareplacesofpleasureandproduction.Restaurants,supermarkets,theatersandmuseumscreatejobopportunitiesandvibranteconomies."Ifyoulookacrosstheworld,thecountrieswheremorethanhalfofthepeopleliveinurbanareasaremorethanfourtimesricher,onaverage,thanthecountrieswherelessthanhalfofthepeopleliveinurbanareas."Thepocketsofpovertythatarepartofthemodernurbanlandscape,Glaesersays,aresignsofthepowerofcities."Citiesdon'tmakepeoplepoor,theyattractpoorpeople,andtheyattractpoorpeoplebydeliveringapathoutofpovertyandtoprosperity,achancetopartnerwithpeoplewhohavedifferentskills,accesstoworldmarkets,accesstocapitalthatenablespoorpeople,someofthem-not...
