New Geography in the News

Others are noting Morley Winograd and Michael D. Hais' piece stating that the GOP field for 2012 will need to overcome an increasingly divided America. Republicans have some work to do in finding the nominee who has the best chance of defeating President Obama, and it certainly is a work in progress. Should Republicans stay true to ideology or act pragmatically? The solution must entail a little bit of both.

Review

Will Ideology or Pragmatism Rule American Politics?

Not according to Michael Lind's piece for salon.com. He explores how today's leaders in Washington are not unlike Dickens' "Mr. Jellyby," a philanthropic character too concerned with long-term problems of remote peoples than with the disaster in his own backyard. Does this fit the description of today's Representatives and Senators? You decide.

Mr. Jellyby goes to Washington

As the world becomes more and more city-centered, Joel Kotkin argues for the Wall Street Journal that smaller cities can master efficiency, a trait of which the "megalopolis" is not necessarily capable. The "nimble" city can offer a better quality of life for its citizens. Click the link below to read more!

The Rise of the Efficient City

In case you missed reading them on our homepage , catch Executive Editor Joel Kotkin's latest works on forbes.com! Don't forget to join the conversation and share your comments with the virtual community!

The Toto Strategy: How Kansas Can Save Barack Obama's Presidency

Korea Conflict Shows That Borderlands Are Zones of Danger

A comedic take on the latest in Homeland Security, be sure to read just how our rights may be slipping away due to fear, not unlike Hogwarts' "Ministry of Magic." The cynicism might just make your day!

The View from Mudsock Heights

Atlanta truly is the success story of the American South. It grew from a mid-sized biscuit and gravy haven to a sprawling center of urban life over the past half-century. But as the recession hits home down home, will Atlanta hold on to its triumph? Aaron M. Renn has some doubts; a "sputtering" job market and neglected infrastructure are just two of the worries for this city.

The capital of the New South looks vulnerable

Are you wondering if the liberal ideology is only suffering in the US? Michael Lind shows us that this could, indeed, be something of a global epidemic. He demonstrates that the collapse of center-left parties is not just something isolated to our side of the pond. Curious as to why this is so? Read all about it!

Why center-left parties are collapsing

Though you may have seen them here at New Geography first, we're happy to announce that Joel's works are quite popular at Forbes! If you didn't read them here, join the conversation at the following addresses:

Prosperity Index Shows That Democracy Still Works Best

The Smackdown of the Creative Class

In The Broken Ladder, Joel Kotkin examines the city as a crucible of modern society and a determining factor in economic prosperity. An important distinction in this study is that cities, which have always been the nuclei of societal development, now house most of the world's residents. Furthermore, this study takes a closer look at London, Mumbai, and Mexico City--the latter two as hubs of progress demonstrating that no longer are western cities the only ones at the forefront of advances. In the modern era,

"Indeed, of the world's most twenty most populous regions, the preponderance are located in third world or developing countries. The urban drama will play out on a truly global stage, with the most decisive developments taking place in the growing mega-cities of the developing world."

The cycle of cities' growth is examined and analyzed. Established cities create the resources that emerging urban centers use to grow. While it is known fact that modernization leads to urbanization, what is not known is whether or not the growth of cities is actually desirable in the long term. Emerging, poignant concerns are the issue. Do cities and their growth actually stifle the growth and sustainability of the middle class? Even more importantly, does their growth actually detain upward mobility through society?

Economic growth has slowed drastically over the past few decades due to a host of reasons. An important aspect of this debate is the school of thought that rejects the desirability of economic growth because of ecological factors. A critical debate is at the podium: as polling data from different countries demonstrates, people are not primarily concerned with "green" issues. However, as emerging economies adopt technology, the pressure to enact these costly policies mounts. This report suggests that this focus may not be the wisest course of action.

In a comparative case study, London, Mumbai, and Mexico City are all analyzed as entities with different functions and histories in the global economy. Though these cities are completely unique, their survival shares essential lynchpins.

"First, their future vitality depends largely on the future of their middle classes. Second, the critical issue for all these places remains how to sustain economic growth to meet the needs and aspirations of their citizens."

As economies continue to advance, there is an increased risk of class displacement, thus adding to the volatility of the aforementioned issues. This report suggests that, due to these factors, cities must regain a primary focus on their economies as opposed to the elite focus on "green" policies.

These topics and more are tackled in this comprehensive, must-read report by Joel Kotkin for the Legatum Institute.

The Broken Ladder

Be sure to catch Executive Editor Joel Kotkin's take on the 2010 midterm elections! He sheds light on not only how the national electorate is structured, but also on the disparity between the influential suburban voter and the policies that affect the suburbs. Why might suburbanites be feeling some "buyer's remorse" this year? Don't miss Joel's answer to this important question and more.

Suburban nation, but urban policies

If predictions are correct and the U.S. population explodes over the next few decades, the country may undergo some major changes. Joel Kotkin, Distinguished Presidential Fellow in Urban Futures at Chapman University, talks about his new book, The Next Hundred Million: America In 2050, and his vision of the growing country's future.

Joel on WNYC

"As the fed funds rate falls, the mortgage rate does not come down to meet it," says Susanne Trimbath, chief executive of research firm STP Advisory Services and a former document editor for the San Francisco Federal Reserve. "If people look at where it says how your rate is calculated for mortgages, home equity loans and even credit cards, not many of them are tied to the fed funds rate."

Susanne on The Street

People have been saying that America was in decline ever since - even before - we became an independent nation. I got a different viewpoint at a discussion on American demographics and the book ”The Next 100 Million: America in 2050” with author Joel Kotkin followed by panel of experts chaired by Michael Barone.

Joel on WatchBlog

As part my introduction to the NDN world, and in anticipation of our Friday event, Simon tasked me with reading Joel Kotkin's The Next Hundred Million: America in 2050. You can imagine my excitement. I mean, what's sexier than demography? And yet Kotkin has a knack for making complex and data-heavy concepts accessible and - don't mock me - exciting.

Joel on NDN

By 2050, the U.S. will add a staggering 100 million people. Yet daunting as that seems, futurist Joel Kotkin lays out a sunny vision of a newly dynamic American economy and culture. For one thing, consider the alternative: Kotkin says other industrialized nations will struggle with stagnant, even shrinking populations. So, how will America accommodate so many more people? Think Houston, Phoenix, Las Vegas; and if that thought depresses you, Kotkin says, think again.

Joel on WBUR