Anchor institutionsLarge institutions that greatly contribute to the local economy such as a university that creates jobs, quality of life and a pool of talent. | Business clustersA tendency for an industry to center in one area. |
Capital flightThe outflow of capital, firms and institutions from a place due to factors such as political instability, excessive taxation, regulations or low quality of life. | Creative economyAn economic base of creative industries such as film studios. |
Cultural industriesHighly desirable economic activity based on culture such as a theatre district or art museum. | Diseconomies of agglomerationInefficiencies of dense urban environments such as traffic jams. |
Economic base theoryThe idea that a city can thrive based on one large industry. | Economics of crimeThe study of how crime rates influence urban economics. |
Economies of agglomerationThe efficiencies of dense urban environments such as proximity to the things that you need and access to large markets. | Economies of densityThings are more efficient when they are relatively close together. For example, it may be possible to make deliveries far faster in a city as distribution centers can be close to customers. |
Economies of scaleCites allow businesses to access large markets and scale their business with ample labor. | Economies of scopeThe efficiencies gained with variety. For example, a downtown shopping district where you can buy a great variety of goods within a single trip. |
Foreign direct investmentAttracting capital into a city on a global basis. Tends to make a city thrive but may displace locals. | GentrificationA neighborhood that becomes popular resulting in an influx of wealth and investment and increasing costs for existing residents who may be forced out. |
Global cityA city that attracts institutions, investment and the headquarters of large firms on a global basis. | Happiness economicsThe prediction that a high quality of life creates a thriving local economy and not the other way around. |
Knowledge economyAn economic base related to knowledge work such as software development or finance. | Livable citiesThe self-reported life satisfaction of the residents of a city. Helps institutions and organizations to attract top talent. |
Public infrastructure developmentEfficiencies to business and improvements to quality of life based on hard infrastructure such as bridges and soft infrastructure such as schools. | Sustainable urban developmentThe pursuit of win-win economic development that both improves the local economy and its livability. This could be contrasted with sacrificing things such as air quality in return for more jobs. |
Transit-oriented developmentThe theory that transportation shapes a city and it's economy. |
