ABSTRACT
One defining element of any society is the nature of the economy and the work performed by people each day. Of growing importance is the preeminence of knowledge and information that has become central to the many economic, social, and political actions that shape our lives. While knowledge and information always have been important and played a role in economic growth and development, the current evolution of advanced economies places a premium on the generation and management of knowledge. The shift from the physicality of agriculture and manufacturing to the intangibility of information carries with it significant changes in the occupations and industries of most economies and societies. Changes in what we make and the skills valued in the marketplace carry implications for individual well-being, as well as for the welfare of the places created by the industrial age that must now adapt to a new form of production. In this context of change, planners must act to harness the advantages of the knowledge economy, while trying to mitigate the disadvantages for their communities.
