Comments on: What Jane Jacobs Can Teach Us About the Economy

By: Thomas Heller

Thomas Heller — Sun, 03 Jan 2010 09:36:52 +0000

Excellent article. And kudos to Miller-McCune, to which a friend referred me. It’s now bookmarked -and, not that it will make any difference in the cosmos, I’ve befriended it on Facebook.

By: Chris Robbins

Chris Robbins — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 19:39:49 +0000

Cities and the Wealth of Nations has been my favorite book since I first discovered it in the 80s. (One should really read its companion too, The Economy of Cities.) It explains so much about what happens in the world. For example, if you live in the midwest, you know what it is to be in a “supply region” or a “clearance region.” And you understand why states cannot just plunk economic activity into their remote rural areas; politicians always seem so puzzled that new businesses gravitate toward metro areas, but we Jacobs readers secretly know why. Thanks for making her ideas not so secret.

By: Judith D. Schwartz

Judith D. Schwartz — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 09:42:35 +0000

Thanks for the kind words on the article. As for John Robinson’s concerns, I am not a manufacturing expert, but I tossed that out as an example knowing that the area I live in (Taconic and Berkshire range) has younger forests as opposed to old-growth and that some sustainable logging can be–and is already being–done. My main goal was to get across the importance of beginning to think about what can be produced locally and regionally. Thanks for writing. It’s good to have these conversations.

By: Keith Ammann

Keith Ammann — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 17:06:11 +0000

OMG. I have been trying for literally YEARS to get people who know something about economics to comment on "Cities and the Wealth of Nations." Invariably, they (a) dismiss it as uninformed nonsense and then (b) flatly refuse to discuss WHY it's nonsensical.

I've written two Daily Kos diaries (1, 2) discussing this book and its implications for our economy. Both elicited crickets.

THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU for resurrecting discussion of this book.

By: john robinson

john robinson — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 09:19:59 +0000

It is exactly this sort of grass roots, subtle, almost-intangible development that needs to occur. It is truly a shame that Jacobs was not appreciated more in her lifetime. But I have to point out a glaringly obvious connection not being made in the above piece…Why is it that you think that there’s no furniture manufacturing in New England?Because environmentalists don’t want us manufacturing furniture from our trees – so we have China cut down theirs.Most every progressive policy I have seen creates these “import-replacement” dilemas. From protecting illegal immigration which encourages the devaluing of American labor, to environmental policies that make manufacturing more difficult, to the oppressive tax policies that drive corporations overseas… all we need is another progressive fix, and we’re sunk.Like health care. And cap and trade. You want to really see unemployment? You really want business to leave the country? That’s a sure fire way to do it.