Technology combined with innovation has created unprecedented job upheaval and job loss. The global job gap could see 75 million jobless people within four years. What can a community do in the face of jobless economic recoveries where many middle-skilled jobs have been lost, never to return?
Brain Gain: How Innovative Cities Create Job Growth in an Age of Disruption is a new book that examines the most crucial issues facing the world's cities.
The three co-founders of the Intelligent Community Forum authored Brain Gain, their third book. They say that "Innovation is the core of the economy you live in, and is being fuelled by Information and Communications Technology as a fire is transformed into an inferno by a rush of oxygen."
For more than 15 years the Intelligent Community Forum has studied and taught the actions needed in the Internet Age to attract new industries and jobs, while meeting social challenges. Brain Gain uses examples of success from 17 communities ranging from MItchell, South Dakota population, 15,000 to Taichung, Taiwan population, 2.6 million.
Brain Gain probes the big issues such as work and well-being, how offshoring can create jobs, and the value of immigration. A Gallup survey in America in May, 2014 shows 20% of those surveyed believe jobs/unemployment is the number one issue for America and Brain Gain speaks directly to that subject. Reviewer comments include:
– David Brunnen, Groupe Intellex, England, "Brain Gain is an essential reader for leaders striving to create smarter, more-intelligent, local economies and communities."
– Andre Santini, Mayor, Issy-les-Moulineaux, France, "The issue is how to attract and retain the talented people who provide the energy of the modern economy. The lessons the book offers, based on the experience of leading cities around the world, are of great value."
– Andrew Cohill, Design Nine, USA, "Brain Gain has placed effects of community investments in technology and broadband connectivity in the larger and proper context of innovation and economic development. Every community interested in Gigabit fiber should make this book required reading."
