The Creative Class and a Local Consumption Base

The “creative class” according to Richard Florida is artists and knowledge-based workers that are drivers of economic development in post-industrial cities. Ascribing to Florida’s concept that the creative class will drive economic growth, cities and towns have attempted to lure this group of people through mixed-use developments and enhancing the vibrancy and walkability of urban cores. If cities, however, only pay attention to the wants and desires of the creative class, then they ignore the needs of a large segment of the population. What about the needs of the aging Baby Boomer generation who have no money for long term care? What about the needs of low wage workers? What about the needs of children? Markusen debunks Florida’s “creative class” theory as a “fuzzy concept” conflating occupational categories. Florida’s creative class inappropriately lumps together jobs that require higher education and labels them as, “creative.” Markusen points out that Florida’s definition includes jobs as diverse as funeral directors to dental hygienists. She critiques the implication in his theory that creativity is dependent educational attainment. Instead of focusing on the “creative class” to drive economic growth, cities and towns should consider the broader scope of a local consumption base. Markusen and Schrock argue that locally produced and consumed goods and services can be a source of economic growth. Instead of concentrating on luring the “creative class” of workers, cities can focus on the welfare of all residents by promoting a local consumption base.