Philadelphia is Becoming a Test Case for a New Theory on how Cities Develop in 21st-Century America

Abstract

The conventional wisdom used to be that economic development was the key to urbandynamism. Create the jobs, the people would follow, incomes would rise, and all would be well.

Now an alternative idea has come along, preached by a number of urban analysts. It holds that quality of life has become the key element for a city’s prospects, because young adults demand it and many jobs no longer have to be in any one particular place. Establish an attractive setting, talented people will come, and, sooner or later, the jobs will, too.

In Philadelphia, the first two elements of this prescription for a prosperous future are becoming a reality. In Center City and surrounding neighborhoods, the city has established a vibrant urban landscape. And in recent years, the population has grown, fueled by an influx of young adults.
The jobs, however, have yet to materialize. In 2012, the city had fewer of them than it had in 2008, before the recession fully arrived.