ABSTRACT. The aim of this article is to critically examine the notion that the creative class may or may not play as a causal mechanism of urban regeneration. I begin with a review of Florida's argument focusing on the conceptual and theoretical underpinnings. The second section develops a critique of the relationship between the creative class and growth. This is followed by an attempt to clarify the relationship between the concepts of creativity, culture and the creative industries. Finally, I suggest that policy-makers may achieve more successful regeneration outcomes if they attend to the cultural industries as an object that links production and consumption, manufacturing and service. Such a notion is more useful in interpreting and understanding the significant role of cultural production in contemporary cities, and what relation it has to growth.

This paper counters proponents of the 'weightless economy' who have suggested the 'death of distance' in relation to economic and social activities that use the world wide web. An analysis of new media developers in New York's 'Silicon Alley' demonstrates that place and distance still are in important. The most important aspect of this co-location is the possibility of social interaction. This paper points to the value of analysis of the material practice of the social (and the economic and cultural). The notion of 'untraded dependencies' is developed through looking at its manifestation and constitution in the specificity of space, time and economic activity.

The cultural industries sector employed 4.5% of all employees in Britain in 1991: equal in size to the construction industry, or to the combined employment in the Agricultural, and the Extractive Industries. However, this sector has remained relatively under analyzed in both the geographical and planning literature. The paper begins by defining the Cultural Industries Production System (CIPS). The second part operationalizes this definition with respect to secondary sources on employment in the CIPS in Britain. The third part considers the change in the employment structure of the CIPS between 1984 and 1991, and finally, the paper addresses the regional patterns of employment in the CIPS with particular emphasis upon particular emphasis upon London London and the South East.

No abstract

Citation: Pratt, A.C. (2009). Urban regeneration: from the arts 'feel good' factor to the cultural economy. A case study of Hoxton, London. Urban Studies, 46(5-8), pp. 1041Studies, 46(5-8), pp. -1061Studies, 46(5-8), pp. . doi: 10.1177 This is the submitted version of the paper.This version of the publication may differ from the final published version. Permanent