This paper considers the relationship between creative class indicators and economic health in mid-sized American metropolitan areas before and during the Great Recession. Our primary research question is whether more creative communities have been able to avoid the widespread downturn at the end of the last decade, or at least suffer a more limited decline than communities with less presence of creative class. We find that highly creative metropolitan areas are as likely to suffer an economic decline that is as severe as that of their less creative peers. Moreover, key creative measures, such as immigrant populations, are negatively related to economic health.

The rapid development of autonomous vehicle technologies has led to widespread interest in how and when they will affect mobility, lifestyles and the built environment. Despite the potential for bringing about significant changes, city and transportation planners have yet to fully incorporate autonomous vehicles in their planning activities. An online survey of planners found considerable awareness of, as well as agreement about, the potential effects of these developing technologies. To fully realize the potential benefits of autonomous vehicles, however, planners will need to be more proactive in including autonomous vehicles in their plans.