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The Cost of Cool: Austin's Tech Growth and the People Left Behind
Case study of Austin tech growth, place identity, equity, incentives, and the tradeoffs of rapid urban success.
Book
Austin
technology sector
tech growth
economic development strategy
urban growth
Quality of Life
place strategy
creative economy
economic inclusion
equity and inclusion
tax incentives
environmental issues
cultural preservation
talent attraction
semiconductor industry
software industry
social equity
City Economic Growth
public policy
Case Studies
The Cost of Cool examines how Austin became a global technology center and what that growth has meant for residents, workers, public policy, and the character of place that helped make the city attractive in the first place. Jon Roberts and contributors use Austin as a practical case study in economic development strategy, tax incentives, environmental pressures, cultural loss, equity, technology-sector growth, and the challenge of sustaining quality of life while cities scale. The book is relevant for economic development practitioners, city leaders, planners, chamber executives, technology-sector partners, and community advocates weighing how to foster growth without leaving people behind.
