The Market Power of Cities?

Places like New York and Chicago dominated the U.S. economy. Mid-sized and smaller cities hummed with people and industry. But over the past 50 years things have changed. The American metropolis has shifted toward low-density development that is less dependent on the urban core, and the market power of cities is now contested. Still, the answer to whether cities have a future in the marketplace is a resounding "yes." Cities retain surprising strength regarding their density, infrastructure, and central location that will position many of them to compete effectively in the new metropolitan economy.