Week 7: Life in the Big (Theoretical) City

Given the problematic criteria in McDonald (Sassen), (assuming some unknown and unambiguous criteria threshold) what cities are left? Descriptive, yes; useful…?

1. Globalization & Spatial Concentration: (Developed nations) Are there any spatial concentrations where globalization hasn’t had influence? Are there purely regional cities?
2. Rising Service Economy: A general economic trend in developed nations.
3. Agglomeration Economies: Scale?
4. Exiting manufacturing headquarters: A general economic trend.
5. World City Networks: Legacy infrastructure? Airline hubs? (Denver, SLC, Detroit) Internet?
6. Local Disconnection: Is NYC more dependent on non-domestic cities? Economic cycles of national demand? Are there any really independent cities? Contrary to local disconnection, should we examine regional agglomerations (R. Florida’s image below) as centers for global production?
7. Socioeconomic and Spatial Polarization: A general macro-economic trend.
8. Informalization: Informal economies yes; however, where are the informal urban settlements in the developed world (homeless, couch surfers, squatters)? These aren’t close to the complexity of informal settlements like favelas and shadow cities of the global south. Rural is HEAVILY based on the informal economy. What legitimizes a “formal” economy? Is most of the U.S. agriculture a “formal” economy with its shadow workers?

Additionally, is history more powerful than narrative in global cities (Shenzhen vs London vs Sao Paulo)?