For many the great migration to the countryside, seen during the COVID-19 pandemic, meant escaping dense city life rife for the spread of disease. Has our relationship with cities transformed forever?

In their new book, Survival of the City, Ed Glaeser and David Cutler argue that healthy cities are integral to prosperity. Regarded as two of the great urbanists and public health experts of our time, they assert that creativity, innovation and wealth prosper in urban life, the failure of which could be disastrous to our collective wellbeing.

Nesta’s Vicki Sellick joined Ed and David to discuss the future of our cities.

Why you should watch the recording

This free online event was for anyone interested in the prosperity of urban life, whether you’re an urbanist, economist, policy maker, civil servant or government or local authority official.

Ed and David explored the future of cities following the pandemic, how we might tackle the health, educational and social inequalities that exist in urban areas and what it will take for cities to survive.

The recording will be made available shortly after the event if you’re unable to attend - register now to get it directly to your inbox.

Speakers

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David Cutler

is a long-standing and acclaimed Havard academic. He is currently the Otto Eckstein Professor of Applied Economics in the Department of Economics and was Senior Health Care Advisor for the Obama Presidential Campaign.

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Ed Glaeser

is also a renowned Harvard academic and a pioneering urban economist. Alongside publishing dozens of papers on urban economic growth, he has served as the Director of the Taubman Center for State and Local Government, and Director of the Rappaport Institute for Greater Boston.