If there is one thing that the pandemic has highlighted it is the existing economic disparity between so-called “superstar cities” and the rest of a country. The pandemic clearly demonstrated that there are significant differences in how communities are capable of tackling outbreaks. Federal policies in recent decades have arguably reinforced the disparities. In the U.S., research and development (R&D) expenditures went primarily to California, Maryland, Massachusetts, New York, Virginia and Washington, D.C. In Canada, the majority of R&D expenditures went to Ontario, British Columbia and Quebec. Within each state and province there are cities that benefited the most, such as Boston, Los Angeles, Toronto or Vancouver. In addition, their populations grew while populations in smaller urban and rural areas decreased, particularly as people moved into those centers offering the most employment opportunities and public services.
With the decline in manufacturing in both countries and the rise of the information economy, it was only natural that new businesses, especially in knowledge-based industries, would set up in superstar cities. After all, they had the needed labour force and infrastructure, including broadband services, educational institutions and R&D facilities. As populations got bigger, with many higher paying jobs, the tax base increased. A greater tax base allows these communities to offer their population more attractive social amenities, education opportunities and high-standards of health care. Meanwhile, in the rest of the country, a shrinking population over decades reduces the tax base, leading to under-investment and deterioration of the physical environment and public services, causing even more jobs and people to go elsewhere.
Even in the superstar cities, the results of the pandemic will alter the nature of people’s work environments, particularly for those who will continue to work from home. The whole notion of urban densification will change with workers being able to work from more remote locations situated outside of the urban core. This will have an impact on infrastructure development, including public transportation hubs, schools and health care facilities. No need to worry, for superstar cities will most likely be in an economic position to accommodate these changes.
At no time in our history has there been such a need for major changes as to how we look at urban development. These emerging developments, demographic and technological, are occurring at an unbelievably fast pace. The question will be whether national, state/provincial and local governments can adjust fast enough to meet the challenges? In one way or another, everyone in the country is going to be affected, positively or negatively. The pandemic has simply accelerated the need to develop national urban strategies, something which to date has not been done effectively if at all.
FROLITICKS 