The last fifty years have seen dramatic changes in towns and cities. People have moved out of central urban areas; retailing has moved out of towns and jobs have also declined in city centres; particularly with the growth of business and science parks. With the continuing decline of the manufacturing sector and the re-shaping of employment in the service sector; a new force will increasingly dominate urban development; the meritocratic elite. The meritocratic elite are those able to develop and use information technology to generate productivity and wealth. Where they wish to live will increasingly influence future urban development.Towns and Cities - Competing for survival suggests that as public and private corporations continue to downsize; outsource and re-engineer themselves; an increasing amount of expenditure and employment growth will lie with the leisure sector. Herein lies one of the solutions to the decline of towns and cities.Town planners and economists have continually displayed a lack of understanding of these developments and have not anticipated the forces which cause urban change. As the global econonmy; combined with changes in transport and information technology increasingly dominates our lives; local and national governments need a new agenda for the 21st century. If they fail to rise to this challenge many of our town and city centres will continue to decline and may not survive.
#4420821 in eBooks 2003-09-02 2003-09-02File Name: B000PY329W
Review
6 of 9 people found the following review helpful. Never too muchBy wiredweird"I have been accused of thinking about women too much ... But what could be more beautiful than thinking about women?" - Auguste RodinRodin is a striking example of an artist who achieved recognition in his own lifetime. That included financial independence; which gave him the freedom to explore directions for which patronage would have been hard to find. In fact; the display of some images in this series is said to have cost the director of the Grand-Ducal Museum his job.Its easy to think of Rodins masterworks in statuary as complete command of form. Whatever Rodin thought of them; it wasnt enough. His later life produced "one-minute drawings" like these by the thousands. He was looking for something; possibly within himself; that he never found words to articulate wholly. One proposal holds that he wanted to capture the dimension of time; the frozen moment; that eluded stone and bronze.Perhaps he succeeded. Beyond that; he also succeeded in collecting a wonderful catalog of female figure - not just figure; but dynamic and exciting figure. The excitement is more than just intellectual. It goes well towards the carnal but stops short of vulgarity; at least to a modern eye. These models presented not just their forms but their arousal; of themselves and of their same-sex partners. Rodins genius captured their passion and his own; stripped of any critical sentiment.This book will work well to complement a library that already represents Rodins better-known works. These watercolor drawings tend toward a sameness of color; contrast; and style that might wear on some viewers patience. I guess its not for everyone. If youve already befriended Rodins work; though; this is an enjoyable way to deepen your relationship.-- wiredweird1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. Beautifully written. Lacking in factual informationBy Myra KentBeautifully written. Lacking in factual information.1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. Five StarsBy epiklesisElegant and insightful.