The way that a city thries, it's become a sort of a bizarre policy cliche. We don't know anything really about why college graduates like to live in particular cities. So i think there are lots of reasons why we should be weary of localities trying to run their own social safety nets.
Edward Glaeser of Harvard University and author of The Triumph of Cities talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about American cities. The conversation begins with a discussion of the history of Detroit over the last century and its current plight. What might be done to improve Detroit's situation? Why are other cities experiencing similar challenges to those facing Detroit? Why are some cities thriving and growing? What policies might help ailing cities and what policies have helped those cities that succeed? The conversation concludes with a discussion of why cities have such potential for growth.