Richard Florida is one of America’s preeminent commentators on cities and urban change. His book The Rise of the Creative Class (2002) argued that cities rise or fall on their ability to attract creative knowledge workers.




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Richard Florida is one of America’s preeminent commentators on cities and urban change. His book The Rise of the Creative Class (2002) argued that cities rise or fall on their ability to attract creative knowledge workers.

The Spanish Flu pandemic of 1919-20 was much, much worse than Covid-19, Florida notes, with 50 million people dead. But big cities like New York, London and Tokyo became the engines of recovery. They “roared back” to become ever more important centers of commerce and culture.

The Spanish Flu pandemic of 1919-20 was much, much worse than Covid-19, Florida notes, with 50 million people dead. But big cities like New York, London and Tokyo became the engines of recovery. They “roared back” to become ever more important centers of 

Today’s “superstar” cities will enjoy a similar revival. People will value more than ever living close to their work and having access to personalized services, including health. Finance, media, entertainment and tech will cluster together as never before.

Today’s “superstar” cities will enjoy a similar revival. People will value more than ever living close to their work and having access to personalized services, including health. Finance, media, entertainment and tech will cluster together as never before

Knowledge workers will blend remote working with close physical access to industry hubs like tech company HQs, movie studios, trading floors.

Knowledge workers will blend remote working with close physical access to industry hubs like tech company HQs, movie studios, trading floors. 




Walkable neighborhoods and close-in cities/suburbs will skyrocket in value. As people remain afraid of disease, there will be a rise in personalized services delivered to and in the home.

Walkable neighborhoods and close-in cities/suburbs will skyrocket in value. As people remain afraid of disease, there will be a rise in personalized services delivered to and in the home.




The nature of work will divide along economic fault lines, increasing inequality. Most higher income work can be done at home, most frontline lower income work needs physical presence.

The nature of work will divide along economic fault lines, increasing inequality. Most higher income work can be done at home, most frontline lower income work needs physical presence. 




Traditional markers of social capital like religious worship and large extended families may become a liability. More “childless” but young areas like San Francisco are seen to have health advantages.

Traditional markers of social capital like religious worship and large extended families may become a liability. More “childless” but young areas like San Francisco are seen to have health advantages. 


The need for social distancing and trend to remote working means civic connectedness will need to become more of a deliberate strategy.

The need for social distancing and trend to remote working means civic connectedness will need to become more of a deliberate strategy. 




Up to 75% of smaller stores on Main Street/High Street won’t survive. The ones that do will be very connected to their communities via technology, offering in-home services and delivery.

Up to 75% of smaller stores on Main Street/High Street won’t survive. The ones that do will be very connected to their communities via technology, offering in-home services and delivery. 




Bottom line: They are vectors for disease because of population density, but the major cities will survive and thrive. They offer work opportunities, cultural and social richness, and services that suburbs, towns and smaller cities lack.

Bottom line: They are vectors for disease because of population density, but the major cities will survive and thrive. They offer work opportunities, cultural and social richness, and services that suburbs, towns and smaller cities lack. 




Are pandemics good or bad for cities in the long term?

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Are pandemics good or bad for cities in the long term?

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