Moretti, Enrico. (2012). The new geography of jobs. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.
Moretti hones in on the three biggest determinants of lifelong trajectory for many: profession, partner, and location. His research shows that location has the biggest impact on one’s financial future. Geography determines who you are surrounded by, the friends and partner(s) you choose, job prospects, income level, the environment your kids grow up in, and more. The “clustering” and concentration of creative and productive people in certain areas of the world lead to hubs of innovation. These hubs are not of the traditional manufacturing variety, as this driver of economic growth is unlikely to return in force to the United States, but of innovative technology, healthcare, biotech, and other industries. Organizations that cluster around other innovative and creative businesses tend to feed off one another, they create ecosystems that nurture their growth. Even individuals not employed directly by an innovative company benefit, as five non-skilled jobs are created for every highly-skilled job in these ecosystems. There are many places, however, in the United States that are not hubs of innovation; there are three kinds of America, hubs of innovation, dying manufacturing areas, and those that have yet to be determined. The story of Microsoft, particularly between Albuquerque and Seattle, is highlighted to illustrate what happens when hubs grow or when innovation leave. The number of patents and percentage of highly educated citizens point to likely hubs of innovation, demonstrating that location matters more than a resume in terms of how much money is made in each position. This is further illustrated by showing the average salary of those with college degrees and high school degrees in a given city; there are innovation hubs where those with only a high school diploma make more money than an individual living in a non-innovation hub with a college degree. An early death and divorce are more likely in non-hub cities. There are many points of diversion between those cities with high innovation and those without.
This article reframed opportunity and access for me; as someone who works with populations based in the Global South, it was disheartening to be presented with this perspective about income and progress. It also, however, challenged me to consider alternative possibilities for what innovation and highly-skilled mean, that those who do not live in areas with innovation hubs have their own inventiveness to address community challenges.
LO2: demonstrate the ability to assess complex organizational environment and achieve communication goals.
LO3: address complex challenges by collaboratively leading teams across disciplines, distance, and sectors.
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