Modern New York: The Life and Economics of a City

The economic history of New York is filled with high-stakes drama and big figures. In Modern New York, renowned economist and political commentator Greg David tells the story of the metropolis's financial highs and lows since the 1960s. He takes a hard look at how Wall Street came to dominate the economy in the years following the wrenching decade of the Fiscal Crisis and how New York's high finance roller coaster came to affect the entire city and the world. He tackles the major controversies over real estate development, the growth of inequality, the role of immigration and the prospects for diversification. In addition Modern New York profiles the business and political leaders at the forefront of today's economic issues, as well as the average people who benefit from (and are the casualties of) the structure and cycles of this hub's capricious economy. From covert breakfasts with Wall Street heads to profiles of people like the brilliant but complex economic development artist Dan Doctoroff, Modern New York features all sorts of characters with big personalities and big wallets, from Donald Trump to Michael Bloomberg. This book takes readers on a journey to understanding the machinery and people as well as the spirit of New York. With its many great stories and applicability to other metropolises such as London, Singapore, Sydney, or Hong Kong, it will be relevant to readers around the world..

About the Author :
Greg David, 62, spent almost 25 years as editor of Crain's New York Business covering the city's business, economic and political issues. He is now director of the business reporting program at the CUNY Graduate School of Journalism while he continues as a columnist and blogger for Crain's. He appears frequently on many media outlets discussing political and business issues. David began his newspaper career at the Sarasota Herald-Tribune and worked at the Charlotte Observer before joining Crain Communications in 1976. He served as managing editor and special projects editor of Crain's Chicago Business and won a John Hancock award for a story on the deindustrialization of the Midwest. A story he edited on International Harvester won a Champion Tuck Award. Under his leadership, Crain's New York Business was the only regional business publication to win the prestigious Gerald Loeb Award, which it did twice for stories on the demise of electronics retailer Crazy Eddie and the impact of AIDS on the fashion industry. A third story, Nonprofits: New York's New Tammany Hall, was a Loeb finalist. The paper also was a repeat winner of the general excellence award of the Alliance of Area Business Publications and the Society of American Business Editors and Writers. David won Alliance and Sabew awards for his editorials and columns. At CUNY, Greg teaches course on the national economy, Wall Street and the New York City business and economic scene. Modern New York: The Life and Economics of a City is filled with the personalities, anecdotes and controversies David as covered in his quarter century working as a journalist in New York. He lives in New York.

Review :
"Well-documented...David's review of policies and personalities shaping New York's past and future offers insights into Wall Street's leadership of the global financial industry...his cautious claim that 'Wall Street may save the city again as it has done so often in modern New York' may quiet market detractors."--"Publishers Weekly" "A compelling account."--"Booklist""" "Interesting history of the country's largest city."--"Kirkus Reviews" "David has given us an engaging read, complete with the heroes and villains who have contributed to the city's changing face as it keeps step with the rise and fall of Wall Street during the last half of the twentieth century."--June Breton Fisher, author of "When Money Was In Fashion" "David brings to his account of the transformation of the city's economy... a reporter's attention to detail, a storyteller's sense of drama, and an insistence on integrity." "-" Matthew Goldstein", " chancellor of The City University of New York "Greg David is one of the most thoughtful, incisive and fearless commentators on the New York City economy and its fiscal condition. No one is better equipped to explain how New York City came to what it is today and what is needed for its economy and citizens to proper in the 21st Century." - Carol Kellerman, president of the Citizens Budget Commission