Technology and Tolerance: The Importance of Diversity to High-Technology Growth
By Richard Florida and Gary Gates June, 2001
This survey finds that diversity - measured by the proportion of gay couples, artists, and foreign-born residents - is a very strong indicator of a metropolitan area's strength in high-technology businesses. A large gay or otherwise diverse population does not directly cause high-tech success in a particular place. Rather, talented tech workers are drawn to places known for diversity of thought and open-mindedness.