The Benefits of Convenience

Convenience sounds like such a mundane benefit.  We associate it with fast food, the corner 7-11, the Pot Belly across the street. It may be a compromise in terms of quality or variety, but at least it's convenience.

So it has been interesting to have two recent Smart City guests mention convenience as the reason a lot of central cities are succeeding these days.  Harvard professor Ed Glaeser cited the value of the convenience of the city, especially for high wage workers.  As Ed explained, the city allows high wage workers to buy back time by putting them closer to work and all the amenities they enjoy.  And time is the one thing they can't make more of.

Gabriel Metcalf, who leads SPUR, talked again today about convenience as one of the great benefits of living in San Francisco.  The city was "largely developed before the automobile," he said, making the city walkable and more convenient.  "We are seeing the resurgence of convenient places everywhere because there is a new premium on convenience."  Gabriel also citied San Francisco's long tradition of cultural tolerance as another major contributor to its success.

Both interviews are well worth a listen.

  

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