Technology, talent and tolerance and internal migration: evidence from the 2001 Census of Canada

Karen M King, University of Toronto

Creative class theory is increasingly cited as a driver of regional development and competitiveness. Florida (2002) argues that a region’s ability to attract the creative class in turn encourages knowledge based economic growth. A condition to Florida’s argument is that in order to attract the creative class, a region must have the 3 T’s: Technology, Talent and Tolerance. The ability of a region to both attract and retain talented people is not only the function of “quality of place” but as well a region’s ability to offer a high “quality life”. Research thus far has used a macro approach in the examination of the relationship between the 3T's and the creative class. Using a creative class theoretical framework, internal migration of the creative class in Canada is examined as well as their demographic and socioeconomic profile.