America's Most Livable City Needs Improvement

Portland leads the nation is sustainability and in fact, may be responsible for starting this movement, but its economy remains mediocre and it is one of America's least diverse cities. Urbanophile's Aaron M. Renn explains why.

1 minute read

July 4, 2011, 9:00 AM PDT

By Irvin Dawid

Renn's column first appeared in the Portland Oregonian on January 17, 2010. He suggests that Portland's livability may paradoxically be an obstacle to increasing its economic performance.

Renn writes that people "move to Portland for values and lifestyle; for personal more than professional reasons; to consume as much as to produce. People move to Portland to move to Portland.

Portland may also lack the diversity needed to be a truly dynamic city." Because, Renn explains, more diverse cities create a frisson that spurs innovation.

Thanks to Streetsblog New York City

FULL STORY: Replay: Picture-Perfect Portland?

Thursday, June 30, 2011 in Urbanophile

Community / Economic Development Social / Demographics Oregon Sustainability Diversity Portland Livability Joel Kotkin View More

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