Measuring the Creative Class: Do We Know It When We See It?

Abstract

Looking across the growing creative class literature, several methodologies for measurement have been employed: analysis of census data and other economic, business, and quality of life indicators; case studies and other descriptive efforts; and surveys of business leaders and other experts. These methods have provided little overall sense of relative validity. This research examines the nature of the creative class using a variety of measures: occupational and demographic profiles, talent and diversity, an expert survey of successful downtowns, creative class accoutrements, and case studies. Specific research questions include the following: Are rankings on different indicators correlated? Do the same municipalities come up high on all indicators of the creative class? How do the different measurement systems relate to overall economic health and growth? Which measurement or combination of measurement systems appears most reliable?If vague concepts are vaguely understood, then their meaning will always be in doubt. If there is no agreement on how to define and measure the creative class, there is little prospect that it will provide useful public policy guidance. If no one knows how the creative class is constituted, or how their presence relates to economic growth, there are likely to be no effective policy levers. (Sands and Reese, 2008, p. 6)

Neighborhood diversity and the creative class in Chicago

“…Markusen (2006) further addressed the "fuzziness" of the creative class concept, highlighting the potential for creative jobs to exist among so-called 'non-creative' occupations, while positions requiring relatively little creativity can often be found among the 'creative' occupations. Indeed, as Reese, Faist, and Sands (2010) observed, "the operationalization of the creative class … is at best a subjective enterprise" (p. 348). With these limitations in mind, and while acknowledging that other creative class formulations exist (see Markusen et al 2008;McGranahan & Wojan, 2007), we have elected to use Florida's (2002Florida's ( , 2012 occupational definitions in this study for consistency with previous analyses and the broader theoretical framework within which Florida attempts to unite diversity, quality of place, and the creative class.…”

Assessing the Magnitude of Creative Employment: A Comprehensive Mapping and Estimation of Existing Methodologies

“…This opacity and vagueness are likely to undermine the provision of useful public-policy guidance (Reese et al, 2010).…”

“…Intrinsically a theoretical construct, "creative industries" must be operationalized before it can be used to direct and evaluate local policies (Reese et al, 2010). However, the diversity of methodological proposals for estimating creative employment and the use of distinct data sets tend to hamper a rigorous analysis and account of the magnitude of that creative employment.…”

The Location of Creativity and U.S. Companies in Germany

“…Specific critiques of Florida's thesis include how creativity is measured (Boschma and Fritsch 2009;Reese, Faist, and Sands 2010) and the varying impacts of creative groups (Kr€ atke 2010). Various researchers have questioned the applicability of Florida's thesis outside of North America (Vorley, Mould, and Smith 2008;Reiner 2010).…”