Globe and Mail Column

The first installment is here.

Clunky sounding or not, mega-regions are the real economic engines of the global economy. The 10 largest account for 43 per cent of the planet's economic activity and more than half of its patented innovations and star scientists who generate pioneering breakthroughs, while housing only 6.5 per cent of its population. The top 40 produce 66 per cent of the world's economic activity and more than eight in 10 of its patented innovations and most-cited scientists, while being home to just 18 per cent of the world's population. All of this convinces me that place, not statehood, is the central axis of our time and of our global economy.

There's a nice story by Globe and Mail editor, Edward Greenspon, here.

Today is the hard launch and Exhibit A in what one of my predecessors used to call editorial refreshments is Dr. Richard Florida, one of the world's leading scholars on the relationship between economic and social progress and the critical role of the creative classes. Richard, long an attentive student of this country, chose earlier this summer to move his research team and family to Canada from the United States. He is itching to become part of our national conversation and we are delighted to make The Globe and Mail his venue.

Richard is an inveterate blogger and his musings will appear on globeandmail.com. You can find it today just under the headlines of our home page. He will also write a monthly column in the Focus section and a separate monthly reflection on his new hometown in the revamped and rechristened Globe T.O. section. Today, he pronounces on the deeper meaning of the relationship between the Buffalo Bills and Toronto.

Obviously, we live in times that are both faster moving and more complex. We all share the frustration of being overloaded with information but still missing understanding. Recruiting Richard to write for The Globe is part of a broader effort to bring more context and meaning to the world around us.

Thanks for the kind words, Ed. It's a true pleasure to be on board.

There's a story on our "social life" in Toronto, here.

The blog is over at the Globe and Mail, here.

Comments

[Gary Dare]

Welcome to Toronto, Professor!

I lived in Toronto for a few years, one of the eight North American cities that I have lived in. Next Easter, Toronto will be the first one of them that I will return to, unless my company diverts me to India or China. While I immensely enjoyed my recent times in Chicago and currently Portland, Oregon, creative class-friendly places that also wonder about their status as "world class" or "global" cities, Toronto has the size of the former and livability of the latter. And Canada is home - but that is still too coarse a measure, as you suggest with the concept of mega-regions.

All the best to the both of you and take advantage of the TTC and taxis rather than a car when you can (I managed to live carless for a decade).

[RONALD H. SMITH]

I am electrified by the article in the Globe. The mega region is inspiration for individuals, business and municipalities.

Bring it on!

How do I get a colour copy of the mega region map in the Globe?

[sandy]

Great gig, Rich.

Just found these mega region links, and thought I'd pass them on:

http://www.nvc.vt.edu/uap/docs/Cirriculum/Podcast/Megapolitan_America.pdf

http://www.mi.vt.edu/uploads/MegaCensusReport.pdf