Exploring Multiculturalism as a Dynamic Factor for Spurring the New Economy, Particularly Present Within Port Cities

Luana Parisi; John Eger

doi:doi:10.11648/j.urp.20200504.13

| Peer-Reviewed

Exploring Multiculturalism as a Dynamic Factor for Spurring the New Economy, Particularly Present Within Port Cities

Luana Parisi, John Eger

Published in Urban and Regional Planning (Volume 5, Issue 4)

Received: 20 November 2020 Accepted: 7 December 2020 Published: 16 December 2020

Views: Downloads:

Download PDF

Share This Article

Twitter
Linked In
Facebook

Abstract

Cities are widely recognized as the preferred places for cultural production and interactions, with their ability to agglomerate high-skilled workers and talented people, and to host services and knowledge infrastructures connected through formal and informal networks. They stand at the intersection points of both physical connections, including passenger travels and trade of goods and non-physical relations. The paper starts from the acknowledgment that innovation comes out as a consequence of these networks, triggering the economic growth and making cities attractive and competitive. It will then investigate the role of the human capital, as the current best productive asset, that acquires a new value in virtue of the social capital. The aim is to demonstrate that multiculturalism is an innovative, dynamic factor for development necessary for cities to thrive, that is particularly present within port cities. These nodes of transportation and relational networks, in fact, are embedded into several activities that go far beyond their boundaries and emerge as places of conflicts, but also of innovation and progress. In order to support the discussion, this contribution will explore the Innovation District of Boston as a significant case study, since, with its strong multiculturalism within a port environment that is deeply changing, the area is favoring the new economy of innovation. The results of the study will highlight the challenging character of stressing multiculturalism in a general climate of mistrust, intolerance and fear and will recognize the fact that in the era of the human capital there is an important element linked to connections, both physical (transportation links) and relational (social capital), that have the ability to transform the look of cities, opening up new opportunities to grow and use the human capital in unexpected ways. A set of possible future scenarios of policies will be proposed as well, considering the diversity added value and the prioritization of physical and relational connections.

Published in	Urban and Regional Planning (Volume 5, Issue 4)
DOI	10.11648/j.urp.20200504.13
Page(s)	114-121
Creative Commons	This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright	Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Innovation Economy, Multiculturalism, Human and Social Capital, Port Cities

References

[1]	Associated Press (2015). How the layering of migrating people and cultures over centuries wrote the story of Europe. Retrieved July 10, 2016, from www.foxnews.com: http://www.foxnews.com/world/2015/10/01/how-layering-migrating-people-and-cultures-over-centuries-wrote-story-europe.html.
[2]	Baily, M., Katz, B., & West, D. (2011). Building a Long-Term Strategy for Growth through Innovation. Brookings Institution.
[3]	Baker, M. R., Vogel, C., & Doyle, P. (2012). The Rise of the Seaport. Retrieved 2016, from bostonmagazine: http://www.bostonmagazine.com/2012/07/rise-seaport-district-boston/.
[4]	Bergquist, J. M. (2008). Daily life in immigrant America, 1820-1870. Greenwood Publishing Group.
[5]	Boschken, H. L. (2013). Global Cities Are Coastal Cities Too: Paradox in Sustainability? Urban Studies, 50 (9), 1760-1778.
[6]	Boston Redevelopment Authority (2010). Boston by the numbers - Colleges and Universities. Retrieved from bostonplans.org: http://www.bostonplans.org/getattachment/3488e768-1dd4-4446-a557-3892bb0445c6/
[7]	Boston Redevelopment Authority (2015). Boston by the numbers, 2015. Retrieved from https://www.bostonplans.org/getattachment/1fd5864a-e7d2-4ebc-8d4a-a4b8411bf759
[8]	Butzin, A., & Widmaier, B. (2012). The study of time-space dynamics of knowledge with innovation biographies (No. 07.12). Working Papers on Innovation and Space.
[9]	Council of Europe (n.d.). The Intercultural cities network: a learning community. Retrieved October 11, 2016, from rm.coe.int: https://rm.coe.int/CoERMPublicCommonSearchServices/DisplayDCTMContent?documentId=0900001680488e90
[10]	Creel, L. (2003). Ripple effects: population and coastal regions (pp. 1-7). Washington, DC: Population Reference Bureau.
[11]	Delaney, D. (2015). San Diego’s Global Trade and Investment Initiative. Retrieved 2017, from http://www.burkco.com/218-insights/
[12]	Derudder, B., & Witlox, F. (2016). Hub cities in the knowledge economy: seaports, airports, brainports. Routledge.
[13]	Dovey, J., Pratt, A. C., Moreton, S., Virani, T., Merkel, J. & Lansdowne, J. (2016). The Creative Hubs Report 2016. Creative Hubs: Understanding the New Economy. City University of London.
[14]	EU Commission. (2012). Guide to Research and Innovation Strategies for Smart Specialisations (RIS 3).
[15]	EUROCITIES. (2016). Cultural and creative industries as motor for urban regeneration and economic vitality. Retrieved 2016, from Culture For Cities and Regions: http://www.cultureforcitiesandbregions.eu/culture/project/activities/cultural_and_creative_industries
[16]	Evans, C., Glover, J., Guerrier, Y., & Wilson, C. (2007). Implementing diversity policies: guiding principles. Equalitec.
[17]	Feldman, M. P. (2014). The character of innovative places: entrepreneurial strategy, economic development, and prosperity. Small Business Economics, 43 (1), 9-20.
[18]	Florida, R. (2002). The rise of the creative class. The Washington Monthly, 34 (5), 15-25.
[19]	Gereffi, G., Humphrey, J., & Sturgeon, T. (2005). The governance of global value chains. Review of international political economy, 12 (1), 78-104.
[20]	Go, R., Acunzo, J., Frankel, K. & Simon, A. (n.d.). Boston is home to a thriving web and mobile startup ecosystem. Retrieved from bostontechguide: http://bostontechguide.com/
[21]	Grootaert, C. (1998). Social Capital: The Missing Link? Washington: The World Bank - Social Development Department - Social Capital Working Paper Series.
[22]	Gropas, R., & Triandafyllidou, A. (2014). Survey report. Emigrating in times of crisis. Highlights and new data from an e-survey on high-skilled emigrants from Southern Europe and Ireland. Global Governance Program, European University Institute. Available online at: http:// globalgovernance programme. eui. eu/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/SURVEY-REPORT-Emigrating-in-times-of-crisis. pdf (accessed: 11 October 2016).
[23]	Hacin + Associates, Inc. (2014). Seaport Square in Boston’s Innovation District. Boston.
[24]	Hall, P., & Pfeiffer, U. (2002). Urban Future 21–a global agenda for twenty-first century cities. International Planning Studies, 7 (2), 177-182.
[25]	Hassen, I., & Giovanardi, M. (2018). The difference of ‘being diverse’: City branding and multiculturalism in the ‘Leicester Model’. Cities, 80, 45–52. doi: 10.1016/j.cities.2017.06.019.
[26]	Jacobs, J. (1961). The Death & Life of Great American Cities.
[27]	Jacobs J. (1966) The Economy of Cities.
[28]	Johnson, D. (2016). Boston: Teeming with Innovation. Retrieved 2017, from smartmeetings.com: http://www.smartmeetings.com/hotels-resorts/96092/boston-travel-teeming-with-innovation
[29]	Josefová, A. (2014). The Cultural diversity as a phenomenon of the multicultural society. Procedia-Social and Behavioral Sciences, 152, 1019-1021.
[30]	Katz, B., & Wagner, J. (2014). The rise of innovation districts: A new geography of innovation in America. Metropolitan Policy Program at Brookings, May.
[31]	Landry, C. (2011). Creativity, Culture & the City: A question of interconnection. In Report. Forum D’Avignon Ruhr, Germany, ECCE.
[32]	LeMay, M. C. (Ed.). (2012). Transforming America: Perspectives on US Immigration [3 volumes]: Perspectives on US Immigration (Vol. 1). ABC-CLIO.
[33]	Leung, A. K. Y., Maddux, W. W., Galinsky, A. D., & Chiu, C. Y. (2008). Multicultural experience enhances creativity: the when and how. American Psychologist, 63 (3), 169.
[34]	Lucas, R. E. (1988). On the mechanics of economic development. Journal of monetary economics, 22 (1), 3-42.
[35]	Marshall, A. (1927). Principles of economics: an introductory volume.
[36]	MassDot (2015). South Boston Waterfront Sustainable Transportation Plan. Boston.
[37]	Merk, O. (2013). The competitiveness of global port-cities: synthesis report. OECD Regional Development Working Papers, 2013 (13), 0_1.
[38]	Metcalfe, S. & Ramlogan, R. (2008). Innovation systems and the competitive process in developing economies, The Quarterly Review of Economics and Finance, Vol. 48, No. 2, pp. 433–446.
[39]	Moen, A., Mørch, A. I., & Paavola, S. (Eds.). (2012). Collaborative knowledge creation: Practices, tools, concepts (Vol. 7). Springer Science & Business Media.
[40]	OECD (1996), The Knowledge-Based Economy, Head of Publications Service, Paris. DOI: https://www.oecd.org/sti/sci-tech/1913021.pdf
[41]	OECD. (2007). Innovation and Growth Rational for an Innovation Strategy. [online] Luxemburg: Statistical Office of the European Communities. Available at: http://www.oecd.org/sti/inno/39374789.pdf [Accessed 03 Feb. 2017].
[42]	OECD (2014). The Competitiveness of Global Port-Cities, OECD Publishing, Paris. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1787/9789264205277-en
[43]	Periac, F. (2013). Cultural Diversity, Social Capital and Innovative capacity of Region-Industries.
[44]	Porter, M. E. (1990). The competitive advantage of nations. Harvard business review, 68 (2), 73-93.
[45]	Porter, M. E. (1998). Clusters and the new economics of competition (Vol. 76, No. 6, pp. 77-90). Boston: Harvard Business Review.
[46]	Power, S., Cousins, A., England, S., Brown, C. – ARUP (2015). Greentech in the City - Whitepaper. Bristol.
[47]	Rob Hand, Ruediger Eichin, Reiner Bildmayer, & Stephanie Overby (2015). A New Industrial Revolution: The Innovation Economy and Manufacturing. Retrieved from http://www.digitalistmag.com.
[48]	Rodriguez, H., Congdon, D. & Ampelas, V. (2015). The Development Of Boston’s Innovation District: A Case Study of Cross-Sector Collaboration and Public Entrepreneurship.
[49]	Romer, P. M. (1990). Endogenous technological change. Journal of political Economy, 98 (5, Part 2), S71-S102.
[50]	Rosentraub, M. S. (2014). Reversing Urban Decline: Why and How Sports, Entertainment, and Culture Turn Cities into Major League Winners. CRC Press.
[51]	Sassen, S. (2011). Cities in a world economy. Sage Publications.
[52]	Sassen, S. (2014). Expulsions. Harvard University Press.
[53]	Schumpeter, J. (1942). Creative destruction. Capitalism, socialism and democracy, 825.
[54]	Segal, R. (n.d.). Mediterranean Port Cities. Retrieved from http://rafisegal.com
[55]	Singer, A. (2015). Metropolitan immigrant gateways revisited, 2014. Metropolitan Policy Program at Brookings. Washing-ton, DC.
[56]	Solow, R. M. (1999). Neoclassical growth theory. Handbook of macroeconomics, 1, 637-667.
[57]	Storring, N., & Walker, M., (2016, 05 10). 8 Placemaking Principles for Innovation Districts. Retrieved 2016, from Project for Public Spaces: https://www.pps.org/blog/eight-placemaking-principles-for-innovation-districts/
[58]	The World Bank. (2010). Innovation Policy: A guide for developing Countries. [online] Washington, D.C.: World Bank Group. Available at: https://openknowledge.worldbank.org/bitstream/handle/10986/2460/548930PUB0EPI11C10Dislosed061312010.pdf [Accessed 10 Oct. 2016].
[59]	Unesco. (2002). Universal declaration on cultural diversity: a vision; a conceptual platform; a pool of ideas for implementation; a new paradigm; a document of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg, 26 August-4 September 2002. K. Stenou (Ed.).
[60]	United Nations System-Wide Earthwatch, (n.d.). Oceans and Coastal Areas. Retrieved September 20, 2016, from earthwatch.unep.net: http://earthwatch.unep.net/oceans/coastalthreats.php
[61]	Urban Land Institute. (2015). Bay Area Catalysts for Technology Innovation. (p. 71).
[62]	Warda, B., Jasper, E. &Peter, S. (2020). Re-imagining the city: branding migration-related diversity. Published online. Retrieved December 11, 2020, from: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/09654313.2019.1701290.
[63]	Weiler, A. (2006). Companies and workers benefit from diversity policies. Retrieved from https://www.eurofound.europa.eu/observatories/eurwork/articles/companies-and-workers-benefit-from-diversity-policies
[64]	Wood, P., Landry, C., & Bloomfield, J. (2006). Cultural diversity in Britain: a toolkit for cross-cultural co-operation. York: Joseph Rowntree Foundation.
[65]	Yigitcanlar, T. (2011). Moving Towards a Knowledge City? International Journal of Knowledge-Based Organizations (IJKBO), 1 (3), pp. 22-38.

Cite This Article

Plain Text BibTeX RIS

APA Style

Luana Parisi, John Eger. (2020). Exploring Multiculturalism as a Dynamic Factor for Spurring the New Economy, Particularly Present Within Port Cities. Urban and Regional Planning, 5(4), 114-121. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.urp.20200504.13

Copy | Download

ACS Style

Luana Parisi; John Eger. Exploring Multiculturalism as a Dynamic Factor for Spurring the New Economy, Particularly Present Within Port Cities. Urban Reg. Plan. 2020, 5(4), 114-121. doi: 10.11648/j.urp.20200504.13

Copy | Download

AMA Style

Luana Parisi, John Eger. Exploring Multiculturalism as a Dynamic Factor for Spurring the New Economy, Particularly Present Within Port Cities. Urban Reg Plan. 2020;5(4):114-121. doi: 10.11648/j.urp.20200504.13

Copy | Download

@article{10.11648/j.urp.20200504.13,
  author = {Luana Parisi and John Eger},
  title = {Exploring Multiculturalism as a Dynamic Factor for Spurring the New Economy, Particularly Present Within Port Cities},
  journal = {Urban and Regional Planning},
  volume = {5},
  number = {4},
  pages = {114-121},
  doi = {10.11648/j.urp.20200504.13},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.urp.20200504.13},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.urp.20200504.13},
  abstract = {Cities are widely recognized as the preferred places for cultural production and interactions, with their ability to agglomerate high-skilled workers and talented people, and to host services and knowledge infrastructures connected through formal and informal networks. They stand at the intersection points of both physical connections, including passenger travels and trade of goods and non-physical relations. The paper starts from the acknowledgment that innovation comes out as a consequence of these networks, triggering the economic growth and making cities attractive and competitive. It will then investigate the role of the human capital, as the current best productive asset, that acquires a new value in virtue of the social capital. The aim is to demonstrate that multiculturalism is an innovative, dynamic factor for development necessary for cities to thrive, that is particularly present within port cities. These nodes of transportation and relational networks, in fact, are embedded into several activities that go far beyond their boundaries and emerge as places of conflicts, but also of innovation and progress. In order to support the discussion, this contribution will explore the Innovation District of Boston as a significant case study, since, with its strong multiculturalism within a port environment that is deeply changing, the area is favoring the new economy of innovation. The results of the study will highlight the challenging character of stressing multiculturalism in a general climate of mistrust, intolerance and fear and will recognize the fact that in the era of the human capital there is an important element linked to connections, both physical (transportation links) and relational (social capital), that have the ability to transform the look of cities, opening up new opportunities to grow and use the human capital in unexpected ways. A set of possible future scenarios of policies will be proposed as well, considering the diversity added value and the prioritization of physical and relational connections.},
 year = {2020}
}

Copy | Download

TY  - JOUR
T1  - Exploring Multiculturalism as a Dynamic Factor for Spurring the New Economy, Particularly Present Within Port Cities
AU  - Luana Parisi
AU  - John Eger
Y1  - 2020/12/16
PY  - 2020
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.urp.20200504.13
DO  - 10.11648/j.urp.20200504.13
T2  - Urban and Regional Planning
JF  - Urban and Regional Planning
JO  - Urban and Regional Planning
SP  - 114
EP  - 121
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2575-1697
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.urp.20200504.13
AB  - Cities are widely recognized as the preferred places for cultural production and interactions, with their ability to agglomerate high-skilled workers and talented people, and to host services and knowledge infrastructures connected through formal and informal networks. They stand at the intersection points of both physical connections, including passenger travels and trade of goods and non-physical relations. The paper starts from the acknowledgment that innovation comes out as a consequence of these networks, triggering the economic growth and making cities attractive and competitive. It will then investigate the role of the human capital, as the current best productive asset, that acquires a new value in virtue of the social capital. The aim is to demonstrate that multiculturalism is an innovative, dynamic factor for development necessary for cities to thrive, that is particularly present within port cities. These nodes of transportation and relational networks, in fact, are embedded into several activities that go far beyond their boundaries and emerge as places of conflicts, but also of innovation and progress. In order to support the discussion, this contribution will explore the Innovation District of Boston as a significant case study, since, with its strong multiculturalism within a port environment that is deeply changing, the area is favoring the new economy of innovation. The results of the study will highlight the challenging character of stressing multiculturalism in a general climate of mistrust, intolerance and fear and will recognize the fact that in the era of the human capital there is an important element linked to connections, both physical (transportation links) and relational (social capital), that have the ability to transform the look of cities, opening up new opportunities to grow and use the human capital in unexpected ways. A set of possible future scenarios of policies will be proposed as well, considering the diversity added value and the prioritization of physical and relational connections.
VL  - 5
IS  - 4
ER  -

Copy | Download

Author Information

Luana Parisi

School of Architecture, Computing and Engineering, University of East London, London, United Kingdom
John Eger

College of Professional Studies and Fine Arts, San Diego State University, San Diego, United States

Download PDF

Sections

Plain Text BibTeX RIS

APA Style

Luana Parisi, John Eger. (2020). Exploring Multiculturalism as a Dynamic Factor for Spurring the New Economy, Particularly Present Within Port Cities. Urban and Regional Planning, 5(4), 114-121. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.urp.20200504.13

Copy | Download

ACS Style

Luana Parisi; John Eger. Exploring Multiculturalism as a Dynamic Factor for Spurring the New Economy, Particularly Present Within Port Cities. Urban Reg. Plan. 2020, 5(4), 114-121. doi: 10.11648/j.urp.20200504.13

Copy | Download

AMA Style

Luana Parisi, John Eger. Exploring Multiculturalism as a Dynamic Factor for Spurring the New Economy, Particularly Present Within Port Cities. Urban Reg Plan. 2020;5(4):114-121. doi: 10.11648/j.urp.20200504.13

Copy | Download

@article{10.11648/j.urp.20200504.13,
  author = {Luana Parisi and John Eger},
  title = {Exploring Multiculturalism as a Dynamic Factor for Spurring the New Economy, Particularly Present Within Port Cities},
  journal = {Urban and Regional Planning},
  volume = {5},
  number = {4},
  pages = {114-121},
  doi = {10.11648/j.urp.20200504.13},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.urp.20200504.13},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.urp.20200504.13},
  abstract = {Cities are widely recognized as the preferred places for cultural production and interactions, with their ability to agglomerate high-skilled workers and talented people, and to host services and knowledge infrastructures connected through formal and informal networks. They stand at the intersection points of both physical connections, including passenger travels and trade of goods and non-physical relations. The paper starts from the acknowledgment that innovation comes out as a consequence of these networks, triggering the economic growth and making cities attractive and competitive. It will then investigate the role of the human capital, as the current best productive asset, that acquires a new value in virtue of the social capital. The aim is to demonstrate that multiculturalism is an innovative, dynamic factor for development necessary for cities to thrive, that is particularly present within port cities. These nodes of transportation and relational networks, in fact, are embedded into several activities that go far beyond their boundaries and emerge as places of conflicts, but also of innovation and progress. In order to support the discussion, this contribution will explore the Innovation District of Boston as a significant case study, since, with its strong multiculturalism within a port environment that is deeply changing, the area is favoring the new economy of innovation. The results of the study will highlight the challenging character of stressing multiculturalism in a general climate of mistrust, intolerance and fear and will recognize the fact that in the era of the human capital there is an important element linked to connections, both physical (transportation links) and relational (social capital), that have the ability to transform the look of cities, opening up new opportunities to grow and use the human capital in unexpected ways. A set of possible future scenarios of policies will be proposed as well, considering the diversity added value and the prioritization of physical and relational connections.},
 year = {2020}
}

Copy | Download

TY  - JOUR
T1  - Exploring Multiculturalism as a Dynamic Factor for Spurring the New Economy, Particularly Present Within Port Cities
AU  - Luana Parisi
AU  - John Eger
Y1  - 2020/12/16
PY  - 2020
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.urp.20200504.13
DO  - 10.11648/j.urp.20200504.13
T2  - Urban and Regional Planning
JF  - Urban and Regional Planning
JO  - Urban and Regional Planning
SP  - 114
EP  - 121
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2575-1697
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.urp.20200504.13
AB  - Cities are widely recognized as the preferred places for cultural production and interactions, with their ability to agglomerate high-skilled workers and talented people, and to host services and knowledge infrastructures connected through formal and informal networks. They stand at the intersection points of both physical connections, including passenger travels and trade of goods and non-physical relations. The paper starts from the acknowledgment that innovation comes out as a consequence of these networks, triggering the economic growth and making cities attractive and competitive. It will then investigate the role of the human capital, as the current best productive asset, that acquires a new value in virtue of the social capital. The aim is to demonstrate that multiculturalism is an innovative, dynamic factor for development necessary for cities to thrive, that is particularly present within port cities. These nodes of transportation and relational networks, in fact, are embedded into several activities that go far beyond their boundaries and emerge as places of conflicts, but also of innovation and progress. In order to support the discussion, this contribution will explore the Innovation District of Boston as a significant case study, since, with its strong multiculturalism within a port environment that is deeply changing, the area is favoring the new economy of innovation. The results of the study will highlight the challenging character of stressing multiculturalism in a general climate of mistrust, intolerance and fear and will recognize the fact that in the era of the human capital there is an important element linked to connections, both physical (transportation links) and relational (social capital), that have the ability to transform the look of cities, opening up new opportunities to grow and use the human capital in unexpected ways. A set of possible future scenarios of policies will be proposed as well, considering the diversity added value and the prioritization of physical and relational connections.
VL  - 5
IS  - 4
ER  -

Copy | Download