Richard Florida
American urban studies theorist
Richard L. Florida (born 1957) is an American urban studies theorist and writer best known for his seminal description of the creative class. He focuses on economic and social theory as a distinguished professor at the University of Toronto's Rotman School of Management and School of Cities. He was a professor at Carnegie Mellon University from 1987 to 2004 before teaching at George Mason University from 2004 to 2007 and subsequently moving to the University of Toronto.
Florida's 2002 book, The Rise of the Creative Class, is recognized as articulating the creative class theory, which underpins his strategy consulting as founder of the Creative Class Group. He also previously served as a senior editor of The Atlantic, where he cofounded CityLab, a news website now owned by Bloomberg. Since 2024, he has worked as a visiting professor to the Owen Graduate School of Management at Vanderbilt University.
Early life and education
Florida was born in Newark, New Jersey, in 1957, the son of Louis Florida, an eyeglass factory worker, and Eleanor Florida. He was raised in North Arlington, New Jersey, and attended Queen of Peace Boys High School. He received a scholarship allowing him to study at Rutgers University in New Brunswick, New Jersey, from which he graduated in 1979 with a B.A. in political science. He first attended the Massachusetts Institute of Technology for graduate school, where he studied political science and urban planning.
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