Why will Rustbelt cities like Detroit fare better than Sunbelt cities in the 21st Century? We're not making sunshine for senior citizens -- we make real stuff and know how to innovate our way out of tough times.
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And now for a few promising words about old industrial towns ...
Traditional industrial centers such as Baltimore, Cleveland, Pittsburgh and yes, even Detroit, may fare better in recovering from the current economic funk than so-called "bubble cities" such as Las Vegas, Tampa, Miami or Riverside, Calif., said Bruce Katz, founding director of the Brookings Institution's Metropolitan Policy Program.
At a recent London School of Economics symposium on U.S. and European cities, Katz said American bubble cities are characterized by "real estate economies built on consumption and excess."
More mature industrial centers, he said, tend to have strong universities and a history of research, innovation and making things. If America is going to "rediscover our innovation mojo," as Katz put it, traditional industrial metros are best equipped to lead the way.
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