Location choices of the Creative Class in Finland with a special focus on Helsinki

Abstract: We are currently living in an age of creativity, in which new economic realities based on knowledge and embracing new technologies and new ways of production are emerging. Hence, cities around the world compete in order to attract and retain the highly educated and talented individuals who drive these activities, establishing the so-called creative class. Few studies have investigated the location of the creative class in Finland although many studies regarding American and European cities are available. Presently, with great attention drawn to Helsinki due to appointment by the International Council of Societies of Industrial Design (ICSID) as World Design Capital 2012, a study related to the location choices of the creative class in Finland and especially Helsinki is worth conducting. The first part examines the knowledge concentration in Finland showing that the educated people are mostly concentrated in the south of the country where the biggest cities are also located. However, in Finland although talent is positively related to the size of the municipalites, many small towns manage to have a high share of Human and Super Human Capital. The second part focuses on the location choices of the creative class in Helsinki. This class recognizes Helsinki’s advantages in terms of opportunities, however they also note that cultural amenities are not decisive when they designate their place to live and work. The decision is rather based on a combination of several factors such as social life and working possibilities.