tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6976144462093297473.post5159017602489172373..comments2024-03-26T19:10:00.791-04:00Comments on West Coast Stat Views (on Observational Epidemiology and more): The Outlier by the BayJosephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10760453165301871031noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6976144462093297473.post-80180236372068185262014-03-02T21:59:01.634-05:002014-03-02T21:59:01.634-05:00These points are all valid but, just to be clear, ...These points are all valid but, just to be clear, my point in these posts is that the arguments of the utopian urbanists don't hold up in the simple and often absolute terms which they've been presented in. I suspect that you can make a very good nuanced case for the idea that efforts to increase livability, diversity, tolerance and cultural richness can pay for themselves by increasing creative output. It's the lack of nuance in the current debate that I object to.Markhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14705408455380402571noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6976144462093297473.post-87937336501611995962014-02-28T15:25:39.182-05:002014-02-28T15:25:39.182-05:00Hi Mark, I've read both your post & Gelman...Hi Mark, I've read both your post & Gelman's post on this issue, and I really like how you are calling out the inconsistencies in Florida's theories. I'd like to add two comments: <br /><br />1) one way to get around the problem of heterogeneous units, such as cities, is to look at correlated changes over time. Does an increase in cool cultural institutions, like centers for the arts, good concert venues, & highly rated restaurants precede a tech revival? My feeling is that looking at correlations over time may be more valid than looking at things cross-sectionally.<br /><br />2) It seems like the argument you're making assumes independent, linear relationships between variables here, where it might be that there is a sort of gestalt going on where the ability of New Orleans to attract people as compared to Austin is due to the overall vibe of the city--yes N.O. has creative reputation, but it doesn't have an intellectual reputation, and the South as a whole has a reputation for being less creative-friendly. Maybe you need to have all of the boxes checked--creative, intellectual, embedded in a larger accepting culture--to get the benefits?Alex Danvershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08158105314869271670noreply@blogger.com