Joachim Thiel - Böcker

Originally published in 2005. By examining the changing patterns of the German advertising industry from a spatial-economic perspective, focusing on the rise of Hamburg as the country's new creative capital, this book discusses the shifting relations between economic organization, social relations and spatial structures in the post-industrial economy. It argues that it is the professional labour market which drives the organization and the spatial structure of knowledge-intensive activities. It does not, however, only imply the increasing importance of labour as a factor of production, but also suggests an increasing uncertainty linked to the nature of knowledge - labour. Illustrated by in-depth empirical material, the book brings together debates on reflexive modernization and individualization with those on embeddedness and on the role of business services in regional development. It concludes that it is the labour market of professionals which provides a regional and social anchoring of economic activities, while at the same time pointing out the increasing importance of metropolitan regions.

Originally published in 2005. By examining the changing patterns of the German advertising industry from a spatial-economic perspective, focusing on the rise of Hamburg as the country's new creative capital, this book discusses the shifting relations between economic organization, social relations and spatial structures in the post-industrial economy. It argues that it is the professional labour market which drives the organization and the spatial structure of knowledge-intensive activities. It does not, however, only imply the increasing importance of labour as a factor of production, but also suggests an increasing uncertainty linked to the nature of knowledge - labour. Illustrated by in-depth empirical material, the book brings together debates on reflexive modernization and individualization with those on embeddedness and on the role of business services in regional development. It concludes that it is the labour market of professionals which provides a regional and social anchoring of economic activities, while at the same time pointing out the increasing importance of metropolitan regions.

In an era of rapid change and growing uncertainty, we are facing an urgent question: How can cities be built for futures that defy prediction? The contributors to this volume tackle this challenge by exploring the role of contingency in urban future-making. Through a range of case studies, they examine relevant aims, strategies, and decision-making processes in both past and present contexts. They reveal how unexpected events and unpredictable factors unsettle established urban conditions but also spark new ideas and possibilities for rethinking and reshaping the city. The volume shows how urban future-making involves navigating highly uncertain environments and extreme conditions to open up new spaces of knowledge and action.