Smile Southern California, You're the Center of the Universe: The Economy and People of a Global Region - Hardcover

For half a century, James Flanigan has been a journalist, columnist, editor, storyteller for Forbes, the Los Angeles Times, the New York Times and the Herald Tribune in Paris and New York. He has covered economies of countries stretching from Europe to Asia, Latin America, the Middle East, and Africa. He currently writes a periodic column that appears in the New York Times.

"From Greenspan to 'Going Green', Jim Flanigan takes a candid look at what makes Southern California's people and economy tick. In particular, Flanigan takes a candid look at the new Chinese-Americans shaping the economic and cultural landscape here and around the world. If all roads lead to Southern California, the new Silk Road starts here."―Dominic Ng, Chief Executive, East West Bancorp.

"Los Angeles is a great meritocracy. You can come here from any background and be successful. Jim Flanigan's historical account of Southern California's evolution as an economic powerhouse captures the region's entrepreneurial spirit and hints at its even more promising global future in the 21st century." (Eli Broad, founder of KB Home SunAmerica and The Broad Foundations)

"Thanks to this lively investigation by one of the nations most highly regarded business reporters, we can better understand how off-shore investment, technology, decentralization, can-do entrepreneurialism and sheer panache have created one of the strongest economies on the planet as well as a working model for American competition in a global age." (Kevin Starr University of Southern California)

"The author is a recognized journalistic authority on the topic. This study offers a refreshing view of Southern California, painting biographical narratives on a background canvas of important economic data." (William Deverell, Director)

"Flanigan argues that the rapid growth of the Asian economies since the mid-1970s and the preeminence of Los Angeles' deep-water port on the West Coast―among other factors―have made it the 'center of the universe.' This is an important insight, and one that is too little appreciated. The writing is forceful and most engaging are the stories of individuals who have built up lucrative businesses after coming to appreciate the available opportunities." (Susan B. Carter, Professor of Economics, University of California Riverside)

"Flanigan gives an informed sense of key transformations in both SoCal's economy and international trade attendant on developments in communications technology...this is a valuable explication of the meaning and challenges of 'globalization' for the region and the U.S. generally." Publishers Weekly

"Few experts understand Southern California's dynamism better than Jim Flanigan. He's poured all that understanding into this book and given us a great read about one of the world's most important economies." (Michael Milken, Chairman)

"This important book offers fresh perspectives on the resilience and global reach of Southern California's dynamic economy. Distilling his four decades of experience as a perceptive observer, Flanigan has a real eye for the biographical detail that brings to life the regions dramatic story of globalization, business innovation, and immigrant entrepreneurship." (Steven P. Erie Professor of Political Science, University of California, San Diego and author of Globalizing L.A.)