» creative class

Toronto researcher finds strong patterns of personality traits across neighborhoods

mariosmall — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 21:35:36 +0000

Are Chicago’s South Siders more agreeable than their North Side neighbors? In which neighborhoods are Chicagoans most open to new experiences? University of Toronto’s Kevin Stolarick has taken personality data from a study of more than 2,500 Chicagoans who took “The Big Five Personality Test” and mapped the data onto Chicago neighborhoods. The data reveal strong patterns across neighborhoods. For example, people who see themselves as extroverted appear to cluster on the South Side; those with higher neurotic scores, on the far North Side. Stolarick works in Richard Florida’s Martin Prosperity Institute, which has seen controversy in recent months. See articles Chicago Tribune and Chicago Redeye.

Group emerges to oppose “creative class” movement in Toronto

mariosmall — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 20:19:55 +0000

The Toronto Star reports that an activist group, Creative Class Struggle, has emerged to oppose the influence of Richard Florida and the Martin Prosperity Institute, a think-tank at the University of Toronto. Florida is known for arguing that today’s cities will prosper to the extent they can attract artists, engineers, intellectuals, and other professionals who constitute what he terms the “creative class.” Members of this class are attracted by tolerant environments and a plethora of ammenities, such as cafes, galeries, and restaurants. The activist group complains that Florida’s model ignores that these “glorified professionals” are “supported by an invisible army of low-wage service workers.”