Spot the meta city lights
HBR) piece deals with the rise of a new type of urban conglomeration, meta cities. It elaborates its features:
Resurrected residentials During Covid, many predicted the death of global cities because many residents retreated to suburbs and small towns to work remotely.
But far from being eclipsed, global cities reinvented themselves with the rise of meta cities — a web of cities that operate as a distinct unit, but are attached to a significant, often global, economic hub.
Same differences Communities that make up a meta city may be in different time zones and non-contiguous locations. Still, they function together as a coherent network with a distinct structure and logic.
A meta city combines physical and virtual aggregation, making it possible to occupy more than one space simultaneously. As a result, urban areas within the meta city network can share economic and social functions.
Pooling talent Since cities are, among other things, essentially labour markets, did this development affect talent pools? Yes, in a positive way, argues the HBR article.
As workers spread out from major cities, they were followed by others in their professions, creating ties between hubs and satellite cities.
Finance workers leaving New York for Miami.
A Dubai-based company has its Egyptian boss working remotely from Cairo since the pandemic. He makes regular commutes to Dubai and Riyadh to connect with colleagues and meet clients.
