Seattle Going Global

"Business leaders gained a glimpse of those trends -- economist-inspired insights into how global forces are already affecting downtown Seattle -- on Thursday morning at a State of Downtown economic forum.

Economists and researchers at Denver consulting firm Progressive Urban Management Associates have identified 10 global trends that affect downtown cores. Economist and company president Brad Segal presented the findings Thursday, along with data specific to Seattle."

Among the points:

"The cities of the future will be teeming with well-educated young women. They increasingly outnumber men in college enrollment and will form a majority of the work force by 2010. Seattle ranks fifth nationally in the number of college-educated young women."

"Cities will appeal by giving those women fun things to do. "Women tend to recreate more than men," Segal said."

"The cities with an advantage will be ones with strong public transportation systems. Transportation is Seattle's biggest vulnerability, Segal said."

"For Seattle commuters, an average annual delay of 12 hours in 1982 increased to 45 hours in 2005."