Joel Kotkin and The Next Hundred Million--A New Book about America in 2050

We hope you will join us for lunch on Friday, February 5th when we host noted author, economist and demographer Joel Kotkin for a discussion about his forthcoming book The Next Hundred Million--America in 2050. Just a day after the book's official release, Mr. Kotkin will share his insights and thoughts about the future of America and its four hundred million inhabitants. NDN President Simon Rosenberg will moderate the discussion and save time for questions from our in-person and online audiences.

Click here to RSVP for this event.

Based on prodigious research, firsthand reporting, and historical analysis, Kotkin's The Next Hundred Million shows how the unprecedented growth will take physical shape and change the face of America. The vast majority of the additional hundred million will make their homes in what Kotkin calls "greenurbia," the suburbs of tomorrow which will be less reliant on major cities for jobs and cultural amenities, and as a result will be more energy efficient. The twenty-first century will be marked by a resurgence of the American Heartland--now far less isolated in the digital age as well as a major source of renewable fuels and real estate for our ever-expanding population. Kotkin also predicts that by 2050 America will become a nonwhite nation, citing that between 2000 and 2050 the majority of America's population growth will be in its racial minorities, particularly Asians and Hispanics, as well as a growing mixed race population. This new population will flock to cities and suburbs in affordable areas such as Houston, Phoenix, and Las Vegas, as apposed to more glamorous but expensive cities like New York and San Francisco. But whether in cities or smaller towns, Americans will come to embrace a "new localism" which Kotkin describes as a greater emphasis on family connections and local community empowered by active online networks and an increasing number of people working from home.

Mr. Kotkin is a Distinguished Presidential Fellow in Urban Futures with Chapman University in Orange County and an adjust fellow with the London-based Legatum Institute. He is the author of six books, included The City: A Global History, The New Geography: How The Digital Revolution is Reshaping the Global Landscape and Tribes: How Race, Religion and Identity Determine Success in the New Global Economy. He writes the weekly "New Geography" column for Forbes.com and a monthly column for Politico.com. In addition, Mr. Kotkin has written extensively for The Wall Street Journal, Newsweek, The American and the Washington Post. He lives with his wife and two daughters in Los Angeles.

This event is one in a series of events NDN is hosting on the changing American electorate. Stay tuned for more information about upcoming events on this topic.

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