In June some five professors of the Centre for Urban Studies of the University of Amsterdam, teaching urban sociology, ethnic entrepreneurship, economic geography, urban geography and urban planning, had dinner with the Deputy Mayor of Amsterdam, Mr. van Poelgeest, at the Amsterdam Academic Club. Motto: The Republic of Amsterdam. The club is situated in the heart of the medieval city in an old historic building at one of the canals. The deputy mayor wanted to know whether he should focus on attracting business or spend his money on amenities and housing. In the light of the economic crisis, he told the social scientists, he had been keen on this, so they had to give him sound advice.