How the crash will reshape America

Richard Florida's essay about the geography of our economic meltdown makes the case that the recovery, when it comes, will not be distributed evenly throughout the U.S. Some regions and cities are better positioned to rebound than others. Same may never recover because the core industries based in the rust belt, for example, cannot compete in the global economy and will be wiped out.

He sees the need for a more mobile, skilled, creative workforce, the kind that only flourishes in densely populated areas, "high metabolism areas", where thought leaders gravitate together. He also challenges the assumptions about the importance of home ownership, arguing that it traps people in places that don't always suit their skills and interests, such as during our current downturn. A stimulating read.