Chris Benner, Professor, Department of Human Ecology, University of California Davis

Efforts to address the dual crisis of growing inequality and long-term economic stagnation are hindered by a parallel crisis in political leadership that is underpinned, at least in part, by a growing fragmentation in the very information and knowledge base that underpins public life.  Meanwhile, a growing body of research has been documenting that greater social equity may actually contribute to economic growth, though there remains limited research on the underlying processes that connect social inclusion and economic vitality.  In this talk, Dr. Benner will discuss his research on the relationship between growth and social equity in urban regions, arguing that different trajectories can be explained, at least in part, by the relative strength and diversity of regional information sharing networks where data is shared and common understandings developed across diverse constituencies.