Aaron M. Renn is an opinion-leading urban analyst, consultant, speaker and writer on a mission to help America’s cities and people thrive and find real success in the 21st century. He focuses on urban, economic development and infrastructure policy in the greater American Midwest. He also regularly contributes to and is cited by national and global media outlets, and his work has appeared in many publications, including the The Guardian, The New York Times and The Washington Post.
The coronavirus has revolutionized how Americans work and those changes could be permanent. For many organizations, this coronavirus-caused shift to working from home could be a welcome excuse for change.
THE FUTURE OF What’s Happening Now
It may not always look pretty, but the American system of federalism creates opportunities to try different things and pick up the slack when there's a shortfall at one level of government.
The real estate industry is quickly changing as property technology (proptech) becomes more pervasive. This panel discussion, moderated by Aaron Renn, covers the changes that have happened and those that are yet to come.
THE FUTURE OF Community Design
As the "smart city" movement has progressed through three distinct waves, local governments have found themselves increasingly struggling to manage the changes that alter many aspects of urban life.
Transportation & Infrastructure
Is talent the most important factor? Taxes? Crime? It's a long list.
Transportation & Infrastructure
Most places were never going to land the company’s next headquarters. But there are still some key takeaways for them.
Before we invest in new infrastructure, we need to maintain and update what we have.
Coastal cities have disproportionately thrived thanks to economic centralization. Yes, the marketplace is to blame, but so is federal policy.
Transportation & Infrastructure
It wouldn’t be a panacea, but it’s an option that needs to be on the table.
Transportation & Infrastructure
In broken communities, the focus should be on social capital -- not just the economy.
Transportation & Infrastructure
Sometimes a person and a city just aren’t right for each other.
Transportation & Infrastructure
It served our ‘maker’ cities well for a long time. Now it holds them back.
Transportation & Infrastructure
In many places, they're trying to like never before.
Transportation & Infrastructure
The Chicagos and Cincinnatis of the world are more vulnerable than they realize.
Transportation & Infrastructure
Understanding how some cities have transformed shows why focusing on the little things can help struggling places survive and thrive.
Transportation & Infrastructure
To thrive in today’s world, they need to connect with immigrants.
Transportation & Infrastructure
The 20 percent who run America need to start paying serious attention to the plight of the middle and lower classes.
Transportation & Infrastructure
The shift from a manufacturing-based economy to a technology- and services-based one hasn’t been kind to the middle and working classes. That won’t change anytime soon.
Transportation & Infrastructure
Cities tend to favor building stadiums and convention centers over investing in education or human services. It's an understandable but troublesome trend.
Transportation & Infrastructure
When lower-income Americans move, it's seen as a result of displacement instead of opportunity. This negative perception needs to change.