Detroit: Building an Economy on Ruins
Wayne Titus
Professor TenHaken
Management Seminar
12-12-12
Detroit: Building An Economy On Ruins In America, overcoming a challenge is something that we take pride in. The American spirit is fueled by individuals working hard to make it on their own, booming business, and a unique sense of community backed by this “One nation, under God”. We do not like to stare failure in the face, and we have a hard time taking “no” for an answer. For many, the roots of our country’s prideful spirit began in 1620 with the arrival of The Mayflower in what is now Massachusetts. From there, spanning hundreds of years, American cities have formed across the nation, many of which have become the centers for international business, the arts, sports, and other areas that bring people to America from all around the world. In New York, the financial industry is prevalent, and right around the corner lays Times Square, which is sometimes called “The Crossroads of the world”. In Chicago we see a fusion of culture, one of the world’s largest transportation hubs, and a pivot point for international trade and commerce, not to mention the “Miracle Mile”, an awesome destination for any shopping fiend. There are many other cities in the U.S. that are recognized internationally as what some might call “hotspots”, and people flock to these cities to live, work, vacation, and explore. With this attitude, surely our largest cities would continue to grow and thrive right? For the city of Detroit, however, the answers are not so easy. What was at one time one of the most thriving cities in the country has become an industrial wasteland filled with crime, poverty, prejudice, and an economy that is less than admirable. In 1929, Detroit was right up on the list of the nation’s largest and most prevalent cities alongside New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago. However, Detroit’s fortune has not been so great since that time, and according to Mayor Dave Bing, “We are at a critical and pivotal
Professor TenHaken
Management Seminar
12-12-12
Detroit: Building An Economy On Ruins In America, overcoming a challenge is something that we take pride in. The American spirit is fueled by individuals working hard to make it on their own, booming business, and a unique sense of community backed by this “One nation, under God”. We do not like to stare failure in the face, and we have a hard time taking “no” for an answer. For many, the roots of our country’s prideful spirit began in 1620 with the arrival of The Mayflower in what is now Massachusetts. From there, spanning hundreds of years, American cities have formed across the nation, many of which have become the centers for international business, the arts, sports, and other areas that bring people to America from all around the world. In New York, the financial industry is prevalent, and right around the corner lays Times Square, which is sometimes called “The Crossroads of the world”. In Chicago we see a fusion of culture, one of the world’s largest transportation hubs, and a pivot point for international trade and commerce, not to mention the “Miracle Mile”, an awesome destination for any shopping fiend. There are many other cities in the U.S. that are recognized internationally as what some might call “hotspots”, and people flock to these cities to live, work, vacation, and explore. With this attitude, surely our largest cities would continue to grow and thrive right? For the city of Detroit, however, the answers are not so easy. What was at one time one of the most thriving cities in the country has become an industrial wasteland filled with crime, poverty, prejudice, and an economy that is less than admirable. In 1929, Detroit was right up on the list of the nation’s largest and most prevalent cities alongside New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago. However, Detroit’s fortune has not been so great since that time, and according to Mayor Dave Bing, “We are at a critical and pivotal
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