Experience economy, creative class and business development in small Danish towns

The Experience Economy is increasingly seen as a potential for cities to attract the creative class and, consequently, to induce business development. In Denmark, not only large cities but also small towns trust in this possibility. However, the applicability of an experience-induced business development in smaller towns may be questioned. This article presents a comparative case study of four small Danish towns which in different ways have developed experiences to attract the creative class and create business development. The analysis discusses how the different strategies have varying results, but also illustrates the severe limitations in creating business development based on experiences and the creative class in smaller towns.