Inequality, innovation and the future of cities: navigating political challenges of rising distrust and anxiety

ABSTRACT

Leaders interested in improving public health need a political environment conducive to engaging with policy experimentation and innovation. Decision-makers are better able to engage with new approaches when they have some insulation from political discord, higher public confidence and a citizenry supportive of expertise. Due to rising distrust and status anxiety fueled by economic inequality, these are all becoming more tenuous, even in relatively stable, advanced democracies. This article analyzes existing research on these challenges, including my own work on trust and public opinion, and reflects on implications for local-level public health innovation and long-term city planning.

KEYWORDS:

• Economic inequality
• policy innovation
• public health
• political trust
• status anxiety

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Hanna Faculty Development Grant, College of Liberal Arts, Hamline University [N/A].

Notes on contributors

Alina R. Oxendine

Alina R. Oxendine (Ph.D., University of Minnesota) is Associate Professor in the Political Science Department at Hamline University in St. Paul, MN. She has been a Visiting Researcher at the University of York and served as Director of the Hamline in York Program. Her research and teaching interests include city politics, political psychology, public opinion, race, class and gender. She has published several articles on economic inequality, public opinion, and civic engagement.