The Boston Renaissance:The Boston Renaissance: Race, Space, and Economic Change Race, Space, and Economic Change

in an American Metropolisin an American Metropolis

-Barry Bluestone-Barry Bluestone

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Mary Huff StevensonMary Huff Stevenson

• The main focus of the study was… The main focus of the study was…

“…“…the effects of massive economic the effects of massive economic restructuring on racial and ethnic restructuring on racial and ethnic groups in the inner city, who must groups in the inner city, who must compete for increasingly limited compete for increasingly limited opportunities in a shifting labor opportunities in a shifting labor market while facing persistent market while facing persistent discrimination in housing and hiring.discrimination in housing and hiring.” ” (Bluestone, Intro)(Bluestone, Intro)

First Study Discussed:First Study Discussed:

• In a study done by the Brookings Institution in 1982, 154 of the In a study done by the Brookings Institution in 1982, 154 of the United States’ largest cities were evaluated. Through census data United States’ largest cities were evaluated. Through census data and government resources, cities were ranked on indexes of and government resources, cities were ranked on indexes of distress, decline, and disparity.distress, decline, and disparity.

• ““The distress index was based on such measures as the The distress index was based on such measures as the unemployment rate, the incidence of violent crime, per capita unemployment rate, the incidence of violent crime, per capita income, and poverty rate in the mid-1970’s. Decline was based on income, and poverty rate in the mid-1970’s. Decline was based on changes in these measures during the early 1970’s, as well as changes in these measures during the early 1970’s, as well as changes in the city government indebtedness. Disparity measured changes in the city government indebtedness. Disparity measured the gap in these social indicators between the central cities and heir the gap in these social indicators between the central cities and heir surrounding Standard Metropolitan Statistical Areassurrounding Standard Metropolitan Statistical Areas” (3)” (3)

• Cities were given ranks from -4 to 4 on the decline scale and from -5 Cities were given ranks from -4 to 4 on the decline scale and from -5 to 5 on the distress scale and also on the disparity scale. to 5 on the distress scale and also on the disparity scale.

• Boston was given the lowest ranking possible in all categories Boston was given the lowest ranking possible in all categories receiving a -4 in city decline, -5 in urban distress, and the region-receiving a -4 in city decline, -5 in urban distress, and the region-wide disparity for Boston and its surrounding areas was ranked at a -wide disparity for Boston and its surrounding areas was ranked at a -4. In this study, Boston ranked lower than such cities as Detroit, MI, 4. In this study, Boston ranked lower than such cities as Detroit, MI, Oakland, CA, and Miami, FL. Oakland, CA, and Miami, FL.

Second Study Discussed:Second Study Discussed:

• In 1996 another study was done on seventy seven of the In 1996 another study was done on seventy seven of the largest metropolitan areas in the United States. This study largest metropolitan areas in the United States. This study was done by Rutgers University and their Center for Urban was done by Rutgers University and their Center for Urban Policy Research. They ranked the seventy seven cities on Policy Research. They ranked the seventy seven cities on many economic and social dimensions. many economic and social dimensions.

• Boston was ranked, “…number one in the country in terms Boston was ranked, “…number one in the country in terms of fastest-growing family income during the 1980’s…of fastest-growing family income during the 1980’s…Greater Boston’s wage earners enjoyed the fourth fastest Greater Boston’s wage earners enjoyed the fourth fastest increase in earnings during the 1980’s…Black household increase in earnings during the 1980’s…Black household income rose by 40.2 percent during the 1980’s, the fastest income rose by 40.2 percent during the 1980’s, the fastest of any urban black population in the country…number five of any urban black population in the country…number five among the top seventy seven cities in its employment among the top seventy seven cities in its employment share in producer and business services…Moreover, the share in producer and business services…Moreover, the share of the city’s total employment in these service share of the city’s total employment in these service industries was the seventh fastest growing in the nation” industries was the seventh fastest growing in the nation” (4-5). (4-5).

• These changes are attributed to what is These changes are attributed to what is known as the triple revolution of Boston. (a known as the triple revolution of Boston. (a demographic revolution, an industrial demographic revolution, an industrial revolution, and a spatial revolution)revolution, and a spatial revolution)

• Demographic revolution-Demographic revolution- Boston is Boston is transforming from a white ethnocentric transforming from a white ethnocentric city to a multicultural community.city to a multicultural community.

• Industrial Revolution-Industrial Revolution- The city is The city is switching over from an economy based on switching over from an economy based on manufacturing industries to an economy manufacturing industries to an economy based on service industries.based on service industries.

• Spatial Revolution-Spatial Revolution- Boston has Boston has become an American metropolis instead of become an American metropolis instead of just a hub city for Eastern Massachusetts. just a hub city for Eastern Massachusetts.