The World is Spiky by Richard Florida - Assignment Example

The World is Spiky by Richard FloridaAccording to Thomas Friedman in his article “It’s a flat World After All” globalization is as a result of technological advancements which make it easier for activities and interactions. Because of technology, there are emerging countries that challenge development and seemingly flatten the playing ground as far as economic contribution and innovation is concerned. On the other hand, Richard Florida in his article “The world is Spiky” challenges the insights put forward by Thomas by saying that there are few significant players in the global economy and these are the top and developed nations or regions.

The top contributors thrive while the weak deteriorate. Thomas Friedman dwells on the aspect of technology contributing to leveling the ground. He says that there are drivers that have leveled the ground like the internet revelation, huge investments in telecommunication sector due to the dot com boom and the development of computers and computers’ software. They are spreading all over the globe and those countries that are able to access these advances are putting their mark on this globe.

This is a phenomenon synonymous with modern world. He also asserts that education plays an important role in further flattening the ground and there is need to set the bar high for leaders as other players re overtaking. Evidently, the assertions put by Thomas are true. They are based on the current observation. However, there are details left out such as the progress of the technological leaders during the time others were catching up. Robert Florida puts forth that people with talent are being attracted to areas which are renowned for technological progress and output.

The potential of the areas to attract talent from other parts is high because there is a concentration of financiers and appropriate education. This attraction has led to development of top areas or “spikes”. The areas where these talents are pulled from are low in progress and productiveness. The flattening effect notion arises because these areas are dispersing. Therefore, there is no denying that there are hills and valleys in the economy only that the distance between respective hills and valleys is being shortened by dispersion.

The peaks are concentrated in Europe and the U.S and that signifies why more patents come from few recognized areas.Robert Florida is more salient because his presentations add an extra dimension which is disparity. Notably, he builds on what Thomas Friedman puts forward and adds that there are dominating places. It is very true that there are few dominant areas and there are also those that have not put their mark. They are exporters of the best talent that proceed to increase the peaks. The global outlook on the economic progress shows that the insights put forward by Robert are true.

The rich countries are the dominant ones while the poor do not have any relevant revelations since they lack the necessary human capital, finances and education as well as flexible corporations. The arguments are relevant to this current situation. They are true in that the current situation shows the country’s top places are still attracting the top talent. Therefore, even in a situation regarded as ideal and high, there are also other peaks and valleys. This implies, even in America, there are still more valleys and peaks in economic contribution from technological progress since some places are more attractive than others.

Works Citedhttp://www.theatlantic.com/past/docs/images/issues/200510/world-is-spiky.pdfhttp://www.nytimes.com/2005/04/03/magazine/03DOMINANCE.html?pagewanted=1&contentCollection=Homepage&t=qry797<br%20/><br%20/>