TCLab

Lee C. Bollinger, President of Columbia University, talks with Thomson Reuters Consumer News Editor Chrystia Freeland.  See the video here.

In the last several decades, Asia has experienced tremendous growth and prosperity, especially if we look to the transformation of Asian cities. The continent accounts for over 60% of the world's population, and countries such as China, India, Vietnam, Pakistan, the Philippines and Bangladesh will provide over half of the increase of the world's urban population (Ling and Phua 2006).

This is a controversial and troubling question for nations and citizens (especially if they are feeling insecure). But daily reality brings more important questions than this: the need to find food, shelter, and preserve or improve one’s health. “Development” in the abstract is a little distracting if it doesn’t speak directly to these essential concerns. Are developed societies those with healthy citizens and residents?

Former General Motors Vice President of R&D and current Co-Chair Emeritus of the Report Review Committee of the U.S. National Academies, Robert Frosch brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to TCLab's advisory board.  Frosch also holds distinction with the American Association of Engineering Societies and is a fellow of the American Association of the for the Advancement of science.  Read more about Robert Frosch here.

A startling new United Nations Population Fund report projects that in 2050 there will be more people over the age of 60 than those under 15. Put another way, there will be more pensioners than children by 2050. In just 10 years from today, there will be 1 billion people in this age group.

Read more here.

Pharmaceutical and life science industries can reinforce economic development and industry growth, but not necessarily positive health outcomes. Yet well-crafted industrial and health policies can strengthen each other and reconcile economic and social goals. This book advocates moving beyond traditional market failure to bring together three uncommonly paired themes: the growth of industrial capabilities, the politics of health access, and the geography of production and redistribution. Order the book.

"You have to plan for the economy. You look at where the clusters are and try and anticipate where growth will take place."

Read more here.

What are the linkages between economic policies, including infrastructure investments, and job creation?

What makes a city innovative? And in what ways does innovation need the city (or not)? As the panelists at the recent “Building Blocks: Knowledge and Innovative Cities” conference addressed, innovation is not inevitable; it is the result of intentional policies and regulations with implications for social equity and economic development. “Building Blocks” was presented by the Technological Change Lab (TCLAB) at Columbia’s Graduate School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation (GSAPP).