Chapter 12
Cultural capital recognizes the importance of distinctive local attributes that contribute to our
understanding of the social world and development. Bourdieu defined cultural capital as the
noneconomic factors that contribute to higher status. Examples might be an individual that has
knowledge about how to succeed in different social settings. He further makes the distinction
Creative places have the ability to create new meaningful forms. They build new social
relationships and institutions. There are several attributes of creativity: (1) It requires the
ability to take risks; (2) it disrupts patterns of thought; (3) it tends to be driven by intrinsic
rather than extrinsic rewards; and (4) it flourishes in a unique environment.
The rise of the creative class is a significant factor in the changing economy. The creative class
class believes there is value in happiness and it is not all about work.
Florida identifies several cities that exemplify the characteristics of creative places. Among the
most creative places are Austin, San Francisco, and Seattle. These places are the homes of large
computer companies that demand highly skilled workers. These places can be identified by the
percentage of the workforce that is in the creative class, a dominance of high-tech industries,
Discussion Questions
Ch. 12
1. What do you think are some of the costs and benefits of communities trying to create
“creative places” as a strategy for development?
2. How effective do cultural events in your community draw visitors and promote economic
development?