The rise of the mega-city

I was strolling through the Page One bookstore in Taipei 101 when I saw the book Who’s Your City? by Richard Florida.

Partly intended as a rebuttal to Thomas Friedman’s book “The World is Flat,” Florida argues that where we live has become an even more important decision in the age of globalization. Despite ever-faster communications technology that allows people to work anywhere, people are still gravitating toward certain cities. Talent, capital and innovation are “clustering” into a handful of global centers.

While this might seem limiting at first, this trend could actually benefit vagabonders. Having seen a variety of cities, travelers are better-equipped to compare places and make an informed decision about where to live. Even if it’s not to live in a city at all.

For example, I’ve lived in both Shanghai and Taipei. While Shanghai has breakneck economic growth, the overwhelming pace of change got to me. Taipei doesn’t have the international stature of ol’ SH, but the friendly people and funky lifestyle here are constantly refreshing.

Another aspect is that going abroad for the first time is like getting a vaccine shot against the fear of moving. If you’ve relocated internationally once, then it’s a lot easier to do it again.

For more information, check out Monocle magazine’s July 2008 issue, dedicated to the world’s most livable cities.

What are your favorite cities? Why do they continue to enchant?