Growth Does Not Equal Productivity

Richard Florida writes that population growth and wealth do not go hand in hand -- wealth comes from improvements in productivity. In fact, some of the areas with the biggest leaps in population are suffering real declines in wealth.

1 minute read

April 10, 2011, 9:00 AM PDT

By Tim Halbur

Cities that you might not expect, writes Florida, have seen increases in productivity and wealth, such as Sioux Falls, South Dakota and Des Moines, Iowa:

"Even Frostbelt metros like Buffalo, Baltimore, Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, whose very names have become bywords for decline, registered productivity gains of between 7 and 10 percent. But the five metros with the fastest population growth all saw their productivity decline. Palm Coast, Florida's dropped a whopping 18 percent, the fourth worst figure in the nation."

Florida's blog features maps that tell the story.

FULL STORY: The Metro Story: Growth Without Growth

Saturday, April 9, 2011 in Creative Class

Community / Economic Development United States Economic Development Des Moines Sioux Falls

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