Can Kentucky Compete in an Urbanizing, Global Economy?

Lammers's dispatch focuses on the presentation of Ted Abernathy, managing partner of Economic Leadership LLC, who "provided some insight on how Kentucky's work force can keep up with the rest of the country and world."

For instance, compared with the rest of the country—where 80 percent of the U.S. population lives in urban areas and where 90 percent of the country's jobs are located—Kentucky is "behind…with about 59 percent of the state's population still living in small cities and rural areas."

"A global economy is a space in which Kentucky appears to be succeeding," however. "Abernathy said there is a strong international presence in Kentucky with 30 percent growth in exports per capita during the last few years."