Superstar Cities and Left-Behind Places: Disruptive Innovation, Labor Demand, and Interregional Inequality

Thomas Kemeny, Michael Storper · 2020 · London School of Economics and Political Science Research Online (London School of Economics and Political Science)

Summary. The paper explains why economic inequality between U.S. regions increased after 1980, reversing decades of convergence. The authors argue that disruptive technologies concentrate demand for skilled workers in certain places initially, then eventually spread that demand elsewhere. Labor supply follows these shifts, creating cycles of regional concentration and dispersal. This theory accounts for observed patterns of rising and falling interregional inequality over time.

Read the original

@article{kemeny-2020-superstar-cities-left-behind-places,
  title   = {Superstar Cities and Left-Behind Places: Disruptive Innovation, Labor Demand, and Interregional Inequality},
  author  = {Thomas Kemeny and Michael Storper},
  journal = {London School of Economics and Political Science Research Online (London School of Economics and Political Science)},
  year    = {2020},
  doi     = {10.13140/rg.2.2.19192.19202},
  url     = {https://doi.org/10.13140/rg.2.2.19192.19202}
}

TY  - JOUR
TI  - Superstar Cities and Left-Behind Places: Disruptive Innovation, Labor Demand, and Interregional Inequality
AU  - Thomas Kemeny
AU  - Michael Storper
JO  - London School of Economics and Political Science Research Online (London School of Economics and Political Science)
PY  - 2020
DO  - 10.13140/rg.2.2.19192.19202
UR  - https://doi.org/10.13140/rg.2.2.19192.19202
ER  - 

Details

DOI

10.13140/rg.2.2.19192.19202

Countries

United States

Regions

North America

Categories

innovation-theory, regional-innovation-systems, policy, general-innovation

Added

2026-04-28