Triumph of the City
Cities are indeed the richest invention that humans have ever made. In his book, Triumph of the City, Edward Glaeser explains that in spite of poverty, unhealthiness, dirt and environmental unfriendliness of urban centers, these cities are actually richer in terms of culture, economics, politics and other aspects peculiar to the definition of civilization. The urban economist openly declares that cities are the best places to stay in, and he proves this by traveling around the world. Moreover, the author discloses the inside workings of metropolitan areas that actually reveal the best in people. Even though this conclusion is not reached arbitrarily, it makes use of keen analysis, cogent argument and fearless reportage. As a matter of fact, the invention of humankind has indeed made the cities richer since it gives individuals hope for the future and makes life more affordable and wealthy as from coursework writing service https://super-essays-service.com/coursework-writing-service Cultural Interactions as a Form of Being Richer Richness is demystified through the creation of cities. Representatives of different backgrounds and cultures merge in urban areas to find a shelter or escape from the vagaries of rural life. Whereas towns develop from simple settings in which residents stay together, no one really had the idea that such small trading centers or transport terminals would grow into large cities. Traditionally, people stayed in villages and never cared about seeking for employment elsewhere therefore limiting cultural interactions in such cases. Development of cities as a result of inter-communal trade caused the establishment of urban areas in which individuals from different ethnic backgrounds were able to associate, inducing cultural exchange subsequently. According to Edward Glaeser, invention of cities has led to the development of a richer cultural heritage where urban dwellers have the opportunity to share their cultural practices; hence, hybrid cultures are fostered and the animosity between various ethnic groups is dismantled. As a matter of fact, children who were born and raised in urban centers are known to have the difficulty in adapting to any ethnic culture thus creating an amorphous class of humans whose culture is a hybrid of their interactions without distinct cultural identities. Consequently, this proves to be important in encouraging inter-cultural relationships between people. Economic Development and Opportunities: Recipe for Being Richer Cities are highly crucial in enhancing economic development and unveiling new business opportunities thereby increasing human achievements. Glaeser claims that metropolitan areas magnify human business and economic strengths. For instance, cities attract the best talents and entrepreneurs from all parts of the world hence making the country enjoy different investment opportunities. In his passport, Edward found stamps from London, Houston, Kinshasa, Tokyo, Athens and other states. Therefore, this is the evidence that the hotel industry is in the expansion mode due to many locals and foreigners who eat and lodge in such hotels. Moreover, it was established that supermarket checkouts were on the rise proving that retailers had a thriving business because of the influx of people in urban centers. On the other hand, investments in real estate have significantly increased in order to accommodate the growing number of residence seekers who keep surging every day. All these issues make the cities richer since more money is brought into circulation while strategic investments are made. As a result, it is recommended that the formulation of economic policies should be as consultative and sustainable as possible. Job Opportunities that Leading to Riches Urban centers are so attractive due to the readily available job opportunities. High rates of unemployment have become the problem in many countries where citizens, especially the youth, have moved from rural regions to metropolitan areas in search of jobs. In most cases, the cities do not disappoint since most of job seekers have always been employed in the city. As much as the urban centers are characterized by substantial unemployment levels, those who manage to secure jobs are always known to receive favorable income that contributes to their advancement in the economic status. Employment opportunities are on the rise due to continuous investments that are made in the urban areas every year. Only in cities, there are multiple employment opportunities owing to the existence of numerous industries. On the other hand, some states are currently focused on decentralization of industries, which eventually will lead to urbanization of new locations. Consequently, it is recommended that employment should be offered on the basis of merits rather than ethnic affiliation to cause interactions among people. Town Planning: Riches Invention of new architectural designs and city plans are aimed at enhancing efficiency in such areas. Instead of leafy suburban establishments, Glaeser opines that residential and retail establishments would be more useful in ensuring that city dwellers maximize every available opportunity to reap maximum benefits from urban resources. Whereas leafy suburban houses are better, the tax base for the federal government is reduced. Hence, the need to increase the tax base through the creation of middle class residential structures with greater capacity will raise more money, for both property owners and the government. Therefore, it is recommended that city planning should be thoroughly considered and done not arbitrarily. The book Triumph of the City by Edward Glaeser clearly shows that human beings continue to grow richer due to their own inventions. However, it does not come quite as a surprise regarding each innovation because every undertaking should enhance efficiency and productivity while reducing costs. As a matter of fact, the increase in income from urbanization is holistic since every sector of the economy and each individual separately have experienced it. Nevertheless, various challenges may occur but they are considered minor compared to numerous benefits that accrue to the nation as a whole. In general, cities are crucial in making states and individuals richer due to innumerable opportunities, both economic and social, that arise with the development of cities.