Is the desire to become a creative city at risk of becoming the latest brand of wishful economic thinking by city leaders?

Our guests today are exploring the potential of creative industries as viable economic development engines. Jasmin Aber is an architect leading research on 'culture-led regeneration' and is part of an international group of research specialists dealing with the problem of "shrinking cities" in a global perspective at the at UC-Berkeley. Jasmin consults on contemporary trends in cultural, social and urban studies and proposes strategies by which these principles may be used to inform future decisions for effective design and sustainable urban planning.

Beth Siegel is president of Mt. Auburn Associates where she has led creative sector strategies for Louisiana, New England and New York City. Beth headed evaluations for the U.S. Economic Development Administration and for the past five years has directed the firm's evaluation work with The Heinz Endowments in Pittsburgh and a consortium of national and local foundations involved in workforce development in Boston.

We'll talk about the pursuit to become a creative city this week on Smart City.