As borders closed and remote work boomed, the rules of the game changed overnight. For digital nomads, this brought unexpected challenges — and new opportunities. — Closed borders, national lockdowns, travel restrictions, fewer and more expensive flights. It sure seems like a bad time to be a digital nomad. Yet in the post-pandemic landscape that’s emerging, more people work remotely than ever before and mainstream interest in nomadic lifestyles is soaring. …

Tourism may be dead, but the future of travel is bright. Last October, more than 400 Singaporeans rushed to make dinner reservations aboard two A380 superjumbo jets. A private suite set them back almost $500 USD per person, while economy class seats cost around $38 USD. The planes weren’t going…

Remote work is reshaping the tech hubs of the future — Silicon Valley has been the startup capital of the world for a generation — but that doesn’t guarantee it will retain that title in future. As the Silicon Valley playbook is uploaded to the cloud, other startup cities are taking advantage, but we have the opportunity to update our thinking…

The nation-state model is outdated. It’s time to create the infrastructure for a borderless world. — This essay was originally published at lraz.io/minimum-viable-state. Follow me @LaurenRazavi on Twitter and sign up for my Counterflows newsletter about borderless living to stay in touch. At the end of 2020, an interesting invitation arrived in my inbox. The email came from SafetyWing, a health insurance company for travelers with…

Could a collaborative approach to urban living put Norwich on the global map? — You’ve probably never heard of Norwich. Located on the United Kingdom’s picturesque east coast, this small urban center held the title of England’s second city until the Industrial Revolution. Today, however, it’s home to just 200,000 people, and almost nobody outside Britain can point to it on a map. …

Kigali’s knowledge-based sharing economy is an example for other cities looking towards the future — In 1994, the African nation of Rwanda suffered one of the worst genocides in human history. Over the course of 100 days, its government slaughtered one-tenth of the country’s population and displaced more than 2 million people, turning them into refugees with little hope for the future. …

Pioneering transport solutions and innovative urban architecture are improving air quality and creating a buzz in Beijing — Daan Roosegaarde was standing on the 32nd floor of a Beijing skyscraper when he decided that his next mission would be to solve China’s smog problem. As the Dutch artist looked out across the dark sky, he realized he could barely see anything. …

From dads with DIY projects to fashionistas seeking the latest trends, Amsterdam’s tenacious citizens are ripping up the rulebooks and bringing trade into the 21st century. How did a city enable its citizens to think differently and connect in new ways? — In the hip Amsterdam district of Jordaan, a woman walks into an award-winning fashion boutique. She pulls her fingertips through racks of emerging designers and vintage classics. When she’s picked out the perfect dress, she takes it to the counter and greets the clerk with a smile. No cash exchanges…

A growing number of young professionals are exchanging cubicles for “exotic” locales. But the cheap living comes with uncomfortable…