The New Localism: how cities can thrive in the age of populism

Description

"[This book reveals] where the real power to create change lies and how it can be used to address our most serious social, economic, and environmental challenges. Power is shifting in the world: downward from national governments and states to cities and metropolitan communities; horizontally from the public sector to networks of public, private and civic actors; and globally along circuits of capital, trade, and innovation. This new locus of power―this new localism―is emerging by necessity to solve the grand challenges characteristic of modern societies: economic competitiveness, social inclusion and opportunity; a renewed public life; the challenge of diversity; and the imperative of environmental sustainability. Where rising populism on the right and the left exploits the grievances of those left behind in the global economy, new localism has developed as a mechanism to address them head on. New localism is not a replacement for the vital roles federal governments play; it is the ideal complement to an effective federal government, and, currently, an urgently needed remedy for national dysfunction. [This book tells] the stories of the cities that are on the vanguard of problem solving. Pittsburgh is catalyzing inclusive growth by inventing and deploying new industries and technologies. Indianapolis is governing its city and metropolis through a network of public, private and civic leaders. Copenhagen is using publicly owned assets like their waterfront to spur large scale redevelopment and finance infrastructure from land sales. Out of these stories emerge new norms of growth, governance, and finance and a path toward a more prosperous, sustainable, and inclusive society. [The authors] imagine a world in which urban institutions finance the future through smart investments in innovation, infrastructure and children and urban intermediaries take solutions created in one city and adapt and tailor them to other cities with speed and precision."--;Power reimagined -- New localism and the American city -- Everything has changed -- Revaluing urban growth: Pittsburgh case study -- Rethinking governance: Indianapolis case study -- Reclaiming public wealth: Copenhagen case study -- New localism and economic inclusion -- Inventing metro finance -- Financing the future -- Toward a nation of problem solvers: a call to action. Power reimagined -- New localism and the American city -- Everything has changed -- Revaluing urban growth: Pittsburgh case study -- Rethinking governance: Indianapolis case study -- Reclaiming public wealth: Copenhagen case study -- New localism and economic inclusion -- Inventing metro finance -- Financing the future -- Toward a nation of problem solvers: a call to action.