Brookings: Topics - Regions and States

The Scouting Report Web Chat: Metro Areas and the Uneven Economic Recovery

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

What stands in the way of recovery? On Wednesday, November 18, Alan Berube and Politico Senior Editor David Mark answered questions in a live web chat about how the nation’s large metropolitan areas—including Washington, DC—have fared in the downturn.

The Scouting Report: Metro Areas and the Uneven Economic Recovery

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 12:30:00 GMT

Event Information:

November 18, 2009, 12:30 PM to 1:30 PM

Local Governments to Face Large-Scale Cuts

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 09:12:00 GMT

Despite reports that the economy is recovering from the recession, there will likely be large-scale city government layoffs, deep cuts to local government services and halted or delayed capital projects in the next year or two. Mark Muro, policy director of the Metropolitan Policy program, explains economic cycles and their impact on city and local governments.

Who Cares About Federal Economic Statistics?

Fri, 30 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT

In a guest commentary for Economy.com’s Dismal Scientist, Andrew Reamer argues that while prospects for the federal economic statistical system are much improved compared to two years ago, the budget deficit will lead to pressures to reduce statistical agency spending. These pressures are much more likely to be alleviated if data users speak loudly about the substantial return the nation receives on relatively small investments in economic statistics.

Metropolitans in the Middle

Thu, 22 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Some say there’s little that can be done to promote metro areas’ status in U.S. federalism but actually there’s a ton that can and should be done. Mark Muro outlines remedies for the absence of middle-tier (metro or regional) government in the context of the U.S. federalism debate.

What Comes Next for Our Metro Nation: The New Forces Driving Regionalism

Wed, 23 Sep 2009 00:00:00 GMT

At the Regional Policy Conference at the University of Minnesota, Bruce Katz discussed the importance of competitiveness, sustainable growth and metropolitan governance in the current difficult economic and fiscal environment in the state of Minnesota and across the country. These forces compel the U.S. to rethink how we grow and demand a new approach to metropolitan governance that is multi-jurisdictional, multi-dimensional, accountable and transparent.

MetroMonitor: An Uneven Economic Recovery

Tue, 15 Sep 2009 09:55:33 GMT

Alan Berube, research director of Brookings’ Metropolitan Policy program, says the second MetroMonitor shows an uneven recovery, that economic gains in some regions of the country have been offset by an increase of financial instability in others.

Tracking Economic Recession and Recovery in America’s 100 Largest Metropolitan Areas

Mon, 14 Sep 2009 00:00:00 GMT

The second in a series of interactive quarterly reports, the MetroMonitor ranks the nation’s 100 largest metro areas—which generate three quarters of U.S. output—on key indicators of economic performance. This edition of the monitor reveals that, amid signs at the national level that job and income losses are slowing, metropolitan economies continued to perform at highly variable rates through June 2009. While several metro areas may have reached a turning point, there are many others that still have not touched bottom, as well as a few that have almost fully recovered.

Metropolitan Las Vegas: Challenges, Opportunities, and a Vision

Tue, 08 Sep 2009 00:00:00 GMT

In speeches delivered at the Las Vegas roll-out of the Brookings Mountain West Initiative Mark Muro and nonresident senior fellow Robert Lang argue that Las Vegas presents an exaggerated version of America’s economic quandary. Muro declares that Las Vegas presents, in extreme form, some of the fundamental questions facing the whole country as it faces a major economic “reset” while Lang contends it can still emerge as America’s next true world city.

The Structure of the U.S. Economic Statistical System: Implications for Public Policy

Wed, 19 Aug 2009 00:00:00 GMT

At the biennial International Statistics Institute conference in Durban, South Africa, Andrew Reamer said that the federal economic statistical system has been too narrowly focused on meeting the data needs of macroeconomic policymakers, to the detriment of other data users, particularly those at the regional level.

Bay Area’s Economic Recovery Workplan: Guiding State Stimulus Spending

Sun, 09 Aug 2009 00:00:00 GMT

A Bay Area economic development nonprofit selected among hundreds of proposals to craft a single ARRA implementation strategy that creates jobs in the short-term and lays the foundation for economic growth and competitiveness in the long-term.

Bay Area’s High Speed Rail Plans: Advancing 21st Century Regional Transportation

Thu, 06 Aug 2009 00:00:00 GMT

To accelerate the arrival of regional high speed rail, a collaboration of Bay Area leaders proposes to use ARRA funds on the track and station upgrades that are both necessary for high speed rail but also enhance the safety, capacity, and performance of existing train operations. Brookings experts examine the proposals.

California’s Green Jobs Corps: Building Green Workforce Region-wide

Mon, 03 Aug 2009 00:00:00 GMT

California is piloting a regionally-based, public-private partnership-driven, green jobs training program for at-risk youth that leverages ARRA funds with local resources to bring together new collaborations of employers, community colleges, and workforce organizations.

Cape Cod and Southeastern Massachusetts Modernize with New Broadband Infrastructure: Advancing Regional Connectivity

Fri, 31 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT

To modernize the communications infrastructure in Southeastern Massachusetts, a regional public-private partnership is pursuing ARRA funds to install hundreds of miles of fiber optic cable and create a shared, multi-purpose regional data center.

A Chicago-Area Retrofit Strategy: Coordinating Energy Efficiency Region-Wide

Tue, 28 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT

A regional nonprofit plans on using ARRA funds to boost its current retrofit and weatherization activities in the short-term while promoting greater regional cooperation and expanded services in the long-term.

Chicago’s Multi-Family Energy Retrofit Program: Expanding Retrofits With Private Financing

Sat, 25 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT

The city of Chicago is using ARRA funds to introduce a new program for retrofit delivery that relies on private sector financing and energy service companies to target property owners of lower-income multi-family homes.

Chicago’s Southern Suburbs Focus on ARRA: Coordinating Inter-Suburban Recovery

Wed, 22 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT

A group of 40 struggling Chicago-area suburbs are utilizing a pre-existing multi-jurisdictional neighborhood stabilization strategy as a framework for linking multiple ARRA funding flows to support community development, energy efficiency and infrastructure upgrades.

Metropolitan Areas Need Immigration Reform

Wed, 22 Jul 2009 09:24:06 GMT

As part of a new “Brookings Immigration Series,” Audrey Singer describes the new geography of immigration in the United States. She discusses how many more states and municipalities have a stake in the passage of federal immigration reform.

Greater Flagstaff’s Integrated ARRA Initiatives: Linking Green Recovery Goals

Sun, 19 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Flagstaff and Coconino County, AZ are working together on ways to reduce the communities’ high utility costs by using ARRA money to jump-start a drive to retrofit targeted households’ homes while drawing on newly trained local workers.

Kansas City’s Green Impact Zone: Targeting ARRA for Neighborhood Uplift

Thu, 16 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT

This comprehensive plan to address a struggling 150-block urban zone in Kansas City utilizes multiple ARRA funds and other resources to train and employ the jobless to perform various energy-efficient and green infrastructure projects in the area.

Memphis Blueprint for a City of Choice: Advancing Joint City-County Recovery

Mon, 13 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT

The city of Memphis and Shelby County, TN along with local business leaders have developed a blueprint to transform the core city into a choice place for living and working by investing ARRA dollars and other funding sources into human capital, government efficiency and economic growth.

New York State’s New Green Jobs Program: Linking Financing and Job Training Statewide

Fri, 10 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT

A new state program would draw on potential stimulus funds to establish a statewide revolving loan fund to accelerate mass-scale building energy efficiency audits and retrofits, and collaboratively expand opportunities for green workforce development and job placement.

Metro Philadelphia’s Energy Efficiency Strategy: Promoting Regionalism to Advance Recovery

Tue, 07 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT

A new regional entity is coordinating five counties in a joint application for competitive Energy Efficiency Conservation Block Grants that calls for new retrofit loan financing, a technology deployment fund, technical assistance to local governments around energy efficiency plans, and energy performance measurement of public buildings.

Puget Sound’s ARRA Coordination: Facilitating Regional Stimulus Applications

Sat, 04 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Seeking to bring together potential regional partners and coordinate requests for ARRA funding, the Puget Sound Regional Council has launched an online clearinghouse, message board and blog, as well as bi-weekly meetings, to inform area leaders about ARRA programs and process and opportunities for collaboration.

Big City Populations Survive the Housing Crunch

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT

New census numbers provide the first real glimpse of how America’s big cities appear now as the major survivors of the nation’s recent housing doldrums. William Frey concludes that it remains to be seen how unemployment will impact growth in these cities and their suburbs and how they will respond when the housing market eventually recovers.

Puget Sound New Energy Solutions: Scaling Up for Regional Sustainability

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Using ARRA funds in the short-term to seed a long-term initiative, a consortium of cities, counties, and local utilities in the Puget Sound area have banded together to advance innovative sustainability solutions in that region.

California Metros Hit Hard by Recession

Sun, 28 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Most California cities are experiencing the worst economic downturn since the Depression; most Texas cities are not. Based on a new Brookings analysis on the nation's largest metropolitan areas, Alan Berube explains that “a lot depends on what a metro area's firms and workers do, and what its housing market did in the lead-up to the crash.”

Seattle’s Green Building Capital Initiative: Partnering for Citywide Retrofits

Sat, 27 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Seattle’s Office of Sustainability and Environment will put ARRA funds to work providing home energy efficiency audits and retrofit financing, in partnership with regional utilities and area nonprofits.

Washington D.C. Suburbs Join Together for NSP2: Combining Regional Scale and Local Flexibility

Wed, 24 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Six suburban jurisdictions around Washington DC came together under the leadership of the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments to submit a joint NSP2 application that combines a region-scale loan fund with local-level flexibility in delivering homebuyer assistance and redeveloping select foreclosed properties for affordable rental housing.

Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority Carefully Prioritizes Stimulus: Strategically Selecting ARRA Transit Projects

Sun, 21 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

To select the most high-impact, ready-to-go projects for stimulus funding, the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority conducted a new, agency-wide structured process that will also serve as the framework for future capital needs decisions.

Youngstown Region Collaborates on NSP2: Taking a Multi-jurisdictional Approach to Recovery Priorities

Thu, 18 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Nine cites have submitted one joint application for the second round of the Neighborhood Stabilization Program that draws on at least 20 different regional institutions to take a multi-pronged approach to addressing the area’s problems with foreclosed, abandoned, and vacant properties.

Why Race Will Matter in Presidential Elections

Fri, 12 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

At an American Enterprise Institute and Brookings event William H. Frey discussed the importance of race-specific voting blocs and their increasing significance in upcoming presidential elections.

Middle-Wage Jobs in Metropolitan America

Wed, 10 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Despite the economic downturn, middle-wage jobs—good paying occupations for less educated workers—remain a prominent feature of the labor market in metropolitan areas nationwide. Though the rankings have surely changed during the current slump, the authors of this Metropolitan Economy Initiative report analyze the sectors and metro areas providing the most middle-wage jobs as a tool for better understanding of metropolitan job markets.

Addressing Ohio's Foreclosure Crisis: Taking the Next Steps

Fri, 05 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Facing the worst foreclosure crisis since the Great Depression, the state of Ohio has responded by focusing on helping individuals keep their homes. Ohio must direct more attention and more resources to the devastating effects that foreclosures are having on entire communities, from the urban neighborhoods of Cleveland or Cincinnati to suburban and rural communities across the state.

21st Century U.S. Immigration Includes Alabama

Sun, 17 May 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Audrey Singer points out that Alabama has historically had very low levels of immigration, but within the past decade it has experienced a significant growth and change in immigrant populations.

Budget 2010: More and Better Data for Metro Decisionmaking

Wed, 13 May 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Andrew Reamer points out that the Metropolitan Policy Program has long argued that current, accurate, and accessible federal socioeconomic statistics are necessary to sustain well-functioning metro regions.

Small-Town Big Spending

Mon, 20 Apr 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Bruce Katz and Jennifer Bradley, in this letter to the editor of the New York Times, argue that the fundamental geographic unit of the 21st century is the metropolitan area and that new forms of governance must reflect this shift.

Pikes Peak as “Megapolitan” Space: A Federal Agenda for Prosperity in the Colorado Springs Metro Area

Tue, 07 Apr 2009 00:00:00 GMT

This year's State of the Rockies Symposium at Colorado College focuses on megapolitan areas—combinations of two or more regions into a single economic, social, and urban system. Amy Liu and Mark Muro of the Metro Program, and Robert Lang of Virginia Tech, delivered keynote addresses on how the Pike’s Peak region can leverage the federal role to help it better connect to Denver and the rest of the Front Range “mega" and boost its prosperity.

Bursting “Migration Bubble” Favors Coastal Metros, Urban Cores

Fri, 20 Mar 2009 00:00:00 GMT

New Census estimates show that the most footloose nation in the world is now staying put. William Frey explains that America’s migration levels, like stock market values, have plummeted. And the usual suspects—formerly booming Arizona and Florida and hemorrhaging older cities like New York and Los Angeles—reveal this new demographic reversal.

Miracle Mets: How U.S. Metros Propel America's Economy and Might Drive Its Recovery

Wed, 11 Mar 2009 00:00:00 GMT

U.S. metropolitan areas are the under-recognized engines of America’s economy, and the nation must adjust its federal system—and American federalism—to support them so they can lead us back to prosperity, write Bruce Katz, Mark Muro, and Jennifer Bradley in a major framing essay for Democracy: A Journal of Ideas.

In Dire Straits: The Urgent Need to Improve Economic Statistics

Wed, 04 Mar 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Current, accurate economic statistics are crucial to monitoring the fragile condition of the U.S. economy and guiding it out of recession. However, Andrew Reamer indicates, the nation’s statistical system has been deteriorating before our eyes. He outlines steps the White House should take to repair the system.

Immigration, Politics and Local Responses

Thu, 26 Feb 2009 14:00:00 GMT

Event Information:

February 26, 2009, 2:00 PM to 4:00 pm

The Metropolitan Policy Program and Greater Washington Research at Brookings hosted a discussion on a new report that examines the local, regional and national factors that led Prince William County, an outer suburb of the nation’s capital, to adopt tough measures against unauthorized immigrants.

Can Metropolitan Leaders Make the Stimulus Package Work?

Tue, 17 Feb 2009 00:00:00 GMT

President Obama’s economic recovery package will succeed to the extent it juices metropolitan areas, the true engines of the U.S. economy. Mark Muro and Sarah Rahman argue that, for all the business-as-usual in Washington, the disconnected funding flows of the stimulus will strengthen the cause of regionalism in America.

Delivering Metropolitan Stimulus

Fri, 13 Feb 2009 00:00:00 GMT

A historic fiscal experiment in this country will evolve in the weeks, months and years ahead as a $790 billion stimulus package is spent to revive America’s economy. Metropolitan Policy Program experts suggest how this money might be strategically deployed to invigorate our nation’s metropolitan areas, the sources of national prosperity.

Revitalizing Older Industrial Cities: Capitol Hill Summit

Wed, 11 Feb 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Decades of deindustrialization and demographic change have left America’s older industrial metro areas—once thriving centers of business and commerce, growth and prosperity—still struggling against slow population growth, lagging productivity, urban disinvestment and sprawl. Jennifer Vey's presentation at the Revitalizing Older Cities Capitol Hill Summit offers a set of federal policies that could help spur innovation, boost human capital, improve infrastructure and nurture the growth of quality places in these historic communities.

Economy, Housing Woes Slow Migration, Census Shows

Wed, 24 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT

New census estimates provide the first real glimpse of how migration and population growth may be responding to the housing slowdown, job losses, and broader recession. William Frey concludes that this economic downturn is not isolated to specific regions with slumping industries. Both Michigan and Florida lost migrants, while other states saw dramatic one-year drops in persons moving in. "We seem to be in a land of transitory limbo," he writes.

The Role of States in a National Health Reform Effort

Thu, 04 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Henry Aaron, Stuart Butler, Alan Weil, and Judy Feder join moderator Larry Levitt of kaisernetwork.org in a Ask the Experts webcast for a discussion of the role of states in a national health reform effort.

The Sun Corridor as Mountain Mega: One of America's Newest Metropolitan Places and a Federal Partnership to Help It Prosper

Fri, 21 Nov 2008 08:00:00 GMT

Event Information:

November 21, 2008, 8:00 AM to 11:30 AM

The authors of the report, “Mountain Megas: America’s Newest Metropolitan Places and a Federal Partnership to Help Them Prosper” held a forum in Phoenix to discuss population growth and economic/demographic change in America’s Intermountain West.

Arizona Needs to get in the Federal Game

Thu, 20 Nov 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Mark Muro and Robert Lang in a recent Arizona Republic column discuss the major change of management in Washington, and urge “megapolitan” areas of the Intermountain West to better organize their energies and consider how to amplify their voice in national affairs as federal policy responses are renegotiated.

A Demographic Breakthrough for Democrats

Fri, 07 Nov 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Democrats pushed out of their demographic rut during Tuesday’s election, according to new analysis by William Frey and Ruy Teixeira. The authors of ongoing political demographics reports on the “battleground states” write that the party’s appeal has extended to new growth regions and to demographic segments that eluded the party’s grasp in the last two presidential elections. America’s growing metropolitan identity, they found, is especially potent within the fast-growing battleground states.

Megapolitan Las Vegas: One of America’s Newest Metropolitan Places and a Federal Partnership to Help It Prosper

Tue, 28 Oct 2008 08:00:00 GMT

Event Information:

October 28, 2008, 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM

On Tuesday, October 28, the authors of the report, “Mountain Megas: America’s Newest Metropolitan Places and a Federal Partnership to Help Them Prosper” held a forum in Las Vegas to discuss population growth and economic/demographic change in America’s Intermountain West.

Ohio must Build on its Strengths by Customizing Development Strategies for Each Region

Sun, 19 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Bruce Katz and Metro partner Lavea Brachman co-authored an op-ed appearing in the Cleveland Plain-Dealer stemming from the success of the “Ohio Summit” this past September. In it, the two explain the need for a change in the discourse about the national economy.

Changing the Game: The Federal Role in Supporting 21st Century Educational Innovation

Thu, 16 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT

To resolve dramatic disparities in educational achievement and ensure future American workers are globally competitive, the federal government needs to change the game by catalyzing a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship in public education. A new office within the Department of Education should partner with the private sector, philanthropy, and state/local governments to scale up successful educational entrepreneurs and seed transformative educational innovations.

Western Perspective: Mountain Megas

Tue, 14 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Mark Muro and Robert Lang in a recent Headwaters News column bring to attention the “New American Heartland” — the Intermountain West, noting that the region's signature issues increasingly reflect the nation's, whether it be road and rail infrastructure, job quality, immigration, or energy.

The Political Geography of Virginia and Florida: Bookends of the New South

Fri, 10 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT

In this analysis of what they term “the battleground states,” William Frey and Ruy Teixeira crunch the demographic and voting numbers to determine which voters will decide the 2008 presidential contest in Virginia and Florida.

The Political Geography of Ohio, Michigan, and Missouri: Battlegrounds in the Heartland

Fri, 10 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT

The Political Geography of America’s Purple States: Five Trends That Will Decide the 2008 Election

Fri, 10 Oct 2008 08:00:00 GMT

Event Information:

October 10, 2008, 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM

A briefing on a new series of reports on the political demography of "purple" states in the 2008 election. Authors William Frey and Ruy Teixeira highlighted the political and demographic trends in the 10 battleground states: Virginia, Florida, Colorado, New Mexico, Nevada, Arizona, Michigan, Missouri, Ohio and Pennsylvania.

A Small-town or Metro Nation?

Wed, 08 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Jennifer Bradley and Bruce Katz examine the notion that America is still nation of small towns. Taking cues from Republican vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin about her hometown of Wasilla, Bradley and Katz's metro area analysis shows that even so-called “small towns” like Wasilla are in fact part of larger metro areas, like Anchorage that contribute greatly to their state’s economy.

Revitalizing Ohio

Tue, 09 Sep 2008 13:08:47 GMT

Ohio has the assets that matter in growing a prosperous economy, Bruce Katz explains, and that the state's ability to compete globally relies on its 32 core communities.

Candidate Issue Index: Transportation

Tue, 26 Aug 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Robert Puentes presents the presidential candidates' positions on transportation issues, including federal transportation financing, telecommuting and public transit. This chart is part of a series of issue indices to be published during the 2008 presidential election cycle.

What the Delegates Can Learn From Denver

Mon, 25 Aug 2008 00:00:00 GMT

What will delegates take away from the Denver convention? Bruce Katz and Jennifer Bradley write that Denver is the shape of things to come. Denver and its region’s leaders collaborate across borders and program areas as a full-fledged metropolitan area. Metro areas are the true engines of our national economy and Denver gets it.

Painting the Mountain States Blue

Mon, 25 Aug 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Democrats plant their blue flag in America's newest, most geographically expansive "swing" region - the fast-growing, increasingly diverse, no-longer-reliably-Republican Intermountain West.

The Political Geography of the Intermountain West: The New Swing Region

Tue, 19 Aug 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Long viewed as a GOP stronghold, the Intermountain West states have recently elected a number of Democrats in statewide races. In this analysis of what they term “the new swing region,” William Frey and Ruy Teixeira crunch the demographic and voting numbers to determine which voters where will decide the 2008 presidential contest in Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, and Arizona.

The Summit for American Prosperity Presentations

Wed, 30 Jul 2008 09:16:50 GMT

The Metropolitan Policy Program at the Brookings Institution recently launched an ambitious, multi-year initiative to promote the health and vitality of America's urban clusters. In these presentations, Bruce Katz and Rob Puentes present policy ideas for improving the federal partnership with states and cities.

Mountain Megas: America’s Newest Metropolitan Places

Tue, 22 Jul 2008 11:15:00 GMT

Event Information:

July 22, 2008, 11:15 AM to 2:30 PM

On Tuesday, July 22, the authors of a new report, “Mountain Megas: America’s Newest Metropolitan Places and a Federal Partnership to Help Them Prosper” held a forum in Denver to discuss population growth and economic/demographic change in America’s Intermountain West.

New Urban Centers in the American West

Mon, 21 Jul 2008 09:42:26 GMT

A new Metropolitan Policy Program report states that parts of Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico, Utah and Colorado are becoming new urban centers with bright futures. But, they also face many challenges. Mark Muro, policy director for the Metropolitan Policy Program, says presidential contenders should take note of the issue.

Mountain Megas: America's Newest Metropolitan Places and a Federal Partnership to Help Them Prosper

Sun, 20 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT

In this report, the authors describe and assess the new supersized reality of the Intermountain West and proposes a more helpful role for the federal government in empowering regional leaders’ efforts to build a uniquely Western brand of prosperity that is at once more sustainable, productive, and inclusive than past eras of boom and bust.

MetroPolicy for a MetroNation

Fri, 13 Jun 2008 00:00:00 GMT

To unleash greater local and national prosperity, U.S. metropolitan leaders need to be better equipped to deal with today’s increasingly dynamic economic, social and environmental realities. This summary outlines a new federal-state-metro partnership that provides metropolitan actors the support, capacity, tools and discretion they need to resolve key challenges; grow in more productive, inclusive, and sustainable ways; and, ultimately, to maximize America’s overall prosperity.

MetroPolicy: Shaping a New Federal Partnership for a Metropolitan Nation

Thu, 12 Jun 2008 00:00:00 GMT

To unleash greater local and national prosperity U.S. metropolitan leaders need to be better equipped to deal with today’s increasingly dynamic economic, social and environmental realities. This report calls for a new federal-state-metro partnership that provides metropolitan actors the support, capacity, tools and discretion they need to resolve key challenges; grow in more productive, inclusive, and sustainable ways; and, ultimately, to maximize America’s overall prosperity.

UK Urban Policy Innovations and Lessons for the U.S.

Thu, 12 Jun 2008 00:00:00 GMT

The United Kingdom has moved aggressively at the national level over the past decade to strengthen the performance of its major cities and urban areas. In light of their success, Alan Berube and Chris Webber outline several lessons for American efforts to create a smarter metropolitan policy that will bolster U.S. economic growth, social inclusion and environmental sustainability.

Urban and Regional Policy and Its Effects : Vol. I

Sun, 01 Jun 2008 12:00:00 GMT

This book brings policymakers, practitioners, and scholars up to speed on the state of knowledge on various aspects of urban and regional policy.

Shrinking the Carbon Footprint of Metropolitan America

Thu, 29 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Brookings released a report that ranks the carbon footprint of the nation’s top 100 metropolitan areas. For the first time, the report quantifies a metropolitan area’s carbon footprint based upon carbon emissions from highway transportation and residential energy consumption and lists metropolitan areas by total metric tons of carbon emissions per capita in 2005. The report offers recommendations on how the federal government should step up its support of metropolitan efforts to shrink their carbon footprints.

Tackling the Mortgage Crisis: 10 Action Steps for State Government

Thu, 29 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT

The mortgage foreclosure crisis has become an issue of growing concern over the past two years, particularly in many older industrial communities. Alan Mallack proposes a set of 10 action steps that state leaders can take to help mitigate its impact on families and neighborhoods—and prevent a similar situation from occurring in the future.

Boosting Productivity, Innovation, and Growth through a National Innovation Foundation

Tue, 22 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT

To respond to America’s slipping leadership in commercial innovation the federal government should establish a National Innovation Foundation (NIF)—a nimble, lean, and collaborative entity devoted to supporting firms and other organizations in their innovative activities. By realigning and augmenting the nation’s diffuse present efforts the new entity would help create better jobs in America, not just for highly educated “knowledge workers” but for high school graduates in manufacturing and “low-tech services.”

Clusters and Competitiveness: A New Federal Role for Stimulating Regional Economies

Tue, 22 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Regional industry clusters—geographic concentrations of interconnected firms and supporting organizations—represent a potent source of productivity at a moment of national vulnerability to global economic competition. For that reason, Karen Mills, Elisabeth Reynolds and Andrew Reamer say the federal government should establish an industry clusters program to stimulate the collaborative interactions of firms and supporting organizations in regional economies to produce more commercial innovation and higherwage employment.

The Political Geography of Pennsylvania: Not Another Rust Belt State

Tue, 15 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT

In the first in a series of reports on the demographic and political dynamics under way in 10 “battleground” states that will be crucial in deciding the 2008 election, the authors examine the political geography of Pennsylvania to explore whether the state will become more Democratic, remain closely divided or even go Republican for the first time in five elections.

Pennsylvania Economic Revival Lies in its Metro Assets

Mon, 14 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Bruce Katz and his colleagues in a recent opinion piece in the Philadelphia Inquirer urge the federal government to organize their current fragmented investments in transportation and innovation and targeting them where they will provide the greatest return, metropolitan America.

Retooling for Growth in America’s Older Industrial Areas

Tue, 08 Apr 2008 16:30:00 GMT

Event Information:

April 08, 2008, 4:30 PM to 6:00 PM

On April 8, the American Assembly and the Metropolitan Policy Program at Brookings held a forum to discuss how the nation’s government, business, civic and community leaders can develop and implement new policies to revitalize older industrial areas. The strategies were based on the findings of the Brookings Institution Press book Retooling for Growth: Building a 21st Century Economy in America’s Older Industrial Areas.

Metropolitan Pennsylvania

Tue, 01 Apr 2008 15:25:31 GMT

Pennsylvania’s 16 metropolitan areas have great economic potential. Amy Liu explains tha an effort has to be made to build upon those assets for the future of the Keystone state and the nation as a whole.

An Economic Plan for the Commonwealth: Unleashing the Assets of Metropolitan Pennsylvania

Mon, 31 Mar 2008 00:00:00 GMT

In Pennsylvania, the next major presidential primary state, concerns about the economy loom large. A true federal economic agenda for the Commonwealth must empower state and local innovators to leverage the core assets of the nation's economy--innovation, infrastructure, human capital and quality places--where those assets are located: Pennsylvania’s many small and large metropolitan areas.

Migration to Hot Housing Markets Cools Off

Fri, 21 Mar 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Migration to America's fastest growing cities have tapered off in the last year, according to the latest Census data results. Would-be homebuyers in previously hot housing markets are unable to obtain the homes they desire, leaving them in limbo. William Frey examines the regions across America weathering the downturn.

The Search for the Next Soccer Mom: Trends to Watch in 2008

Thu, 28 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT

The evolution of American politics is bound up with demographic and geographic change. So what are the trends to watch in 2008? A number of them are examined by Visiting Fellow Ruy Teixeira and AEI's Karlyn Bowman.

Time to Talk of Future Economy: Candidates Must Tell How They'd Move Wisconsin Ahead

Sat, 23 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Bruce Katz examines the dynamic of the presidential election, urging candidates to engage on the big-picture issue of economic change overarching this campaign.

Population Dynamics in the District of Columbia since 2000

Mon, 14 Jan 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Evidence from a variety of sources indicates that there is renewed interest in living in the District of Columbia. Brooke DeRenzis reviews changes among D.C.’s population since 2000 and examines movement in and out of the city. She finds that the city has drawn newcomers from across the country. Many of those leaving the District are settling in the Washington region’s suburbs.

Walkable Urbanism is Changing City Life

Wed, 09 Jan 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Chris Leinberger discusses walkable urbanism, and how the desire for more walkable urban spaces is changing the housing market in America's cities as people seek alternatives to driving.

The Future of Red, Blue and Purple America

Tue, 08 Jan 2008 00:00:00 GMT

A key contributor to political polarization in the U.S. frequently overlooked is the demographic and geographic changes in the electorate that have altered the sizes of different population groups and even shifted their political orientations over time. Brookings Ruy Teixeira examines the new wave of demographic and geographic changes currently washing over the U.S. and their profound effects on future politics.

Walkable Urbanism

Wed, 05 Dec 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Chris Leinberger discusses his book about the most walkable urban and metro areas in the United States with Nicole Lapin from CNN.

Blueprint for American Prosperity: Unleashing the Potential of a Metropolitan Nation

Tue, 06 Nov 2007 00:00:00 GMT

The Blueprint for American Prosperity is a multi-year initiative to promote an economic agenda for the nation that builds on the assets—and centrality—of America’s metropolitan areas. The Blueprint will put forth an integrated policy agenda and specific federal reforms that give cities, suburbs, and metro areas the tools they need to leverage their economic strengths, grow in environmentally sensitive ways, and create opportunities to build a strong and diverse middle class. The Blueprint is being supported and informed by a network of leaders who strive every day to create the kind of healthy and vibrant communities that form the foundation of the U.S. economy.

Metro Nation: How Ohio’s Cities and Metro Areas Can Drive Prosperity in the 21st Century

Fri, 07 Sep 2007 00:00:00 GMT

At a legislative conference in Cambridge, Ohio, Bruce Katz stressed the importance of cities and metro areas to the state's overall prosperity. Acknowledging the decline of Ohio's older industrial cities, Katz noted the area's many assets and argued for a focus on innovation, human capital, infrastructure, and quality communities as means to revitalize the region.

The Goal for Ohio Metros: 43,000 residents

Fri, 29 Jun 2007 00:00:00 GMT

A Brookings study of 302 cities and found Canton, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Dayton, Mansfield, Springfield, Warren and Youngstown among 65 cities that are underperforming compared to their peers nationwide. Most of these cities—and their metropolitan areas—are struggling to make a successful transition from an economy based on routine manufacturing to one based on more knowledge-oriented activities.

Cities Must Lead Way Back to Prosperity

Sun, 24 Jun 2007 00:00:00 GMT

For all of Connecticut's affluence, its economic performance in recent years has been lackluster at best. According to a recent report by the Connecticut Economic Resource Center, the state has fallen far behind in job growth and entrepreneurialism,

In Kentucky, Being Poor is Costly

Sun, 24 Jun 2007 00:00:00 GMT

What do western Louisville and the Appalachian region have in common besides being two of the poorest areas in Kentucky? Not much one would think. And, yet, they each are also among the most expensive places to live in the state.

The High Price of Being Poor in Kentucky

Fri, 01 Jun 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Kentucky's working families frequently pay a premium for everyday necessities. Lower-income workers there are more likely to pay more for home loans, auto loans, car insurance, basic financial services, and home goods. However, through a combination

Back to Prosperity: A Competitive Agenda for Renewing Pennsylvania

Fri, 18 May 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Like many Midwestern states, Pennsylvania is transitioning slowly from an industrial past to a knowledge economy. As it does so, the state's development patterns—slow growth, fast sprawl, struggling cities and older suburbs—undermines the state's competitive future.

Making Markets an Asset for Lower Income, Working Families

Mon, 09 Apr 2007 00:00:00 GMT

In this testimony before the California Assembly Banking and Finance Committee, Matt Fellowes discusses the important opportunity to build wealth among California's lower income working families by expanding access to banking services.

Pennsylvania Must Speed Up Reforms to Prosper: Growth Remains Slow Despite Hint of Progress

Sun, 08 Apr 2007 00:00:00 GMT

The authors argue that the same trends of slow growth, "hollowing" metropolitan and rural areas and deindustrialization that have gripped Pennsylvania for decades still do today and require urgent, possibly radical responses.

The Great Lakes: A World-Leading Bi-national Economic Region

Wed, 28 Mar 2007 00:00:00 GMT

In this presentation to a meeting of Canadian federal and provincial officials, Toronto area civic and academic leaders, and city officials, John Austin and Britany Affolter-Caine previewed the upcoming report on the bi-national Great Lakes regional economy and shared strategies for fueling economic growth across boundaries in the region.

Committing to Prosperity: Moving Forward on the Agenda to Renew Pennsylvania

Thu, 01 Mar 2007 00:00:00 GMT

"Committing to Prosperity," an update of Metropolitan Policy Program's 2003 report "Back to Prosperity: A Competitive Agenda to Renew Pennsylvania," revisits the state of the Commonwealth and reviews policy reform activity to date.

The Third California: The Golden State's New Frontier

Thu, 01 Mar 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Extending from the outer suburbs of greater Los Angeles to the foothills of the high mountains of Northern California, the "Third California" contains virtually all the state's fast-growing regions—from Riverside-San Bernardino in the south to the burgeoning suburbs around Sacramento. However, this growth comes with serious collective challenges on how to capitalize on job and population increases while addressing workforce and environmental concerns.

Rethinking Affordable Housing Strategies

Thu, 22 Feb 2007 00:00:00 GMT

In his presentation at Housing Charlotte 2007, Bruce Katz discusses current housing challenges in Charlotte, principles of success, as well as where the city, and the nation, go from here.