Is the “New” Brooklyn Economy For Real?
Is there such a thing as a “new” Brooklyn economy? An economy driven by a flexible, often self-employed creative class? Can this kind of economy—part information, part artisan, ever changing—sustain a city like Brooklyn?
Jonathan Butler
Brooklyn Flea and Brownstoner
Yes. Brooklyn, along with like-minded cities around the world like Berlin and Portland, is leading the way in reinventing a new kind of entrepreneurial economy that combines the new opportunities opened up by technology and the Internet with a yearning for old-fashioned values like creative fulfillment and a sense of community. Despite its obvious entertainment value (Hello, Portlandia!), the values and economic power of this movement are very real and, like it or not, Brooklyn has become a global brand synonymous with these qualities. In Brooklyn’s case, this new economy—exemplified by the flowering of world-class restaurants and markets—has helped fuel the transformation of neighborhoods from DUMBO to Williamsburg to Bed-Stuy, making them increasingly popular places for families to put down roots and invest in their communities.