The Brookings Institution has launched something it calls the Blueprint for American Prosperity, a policy initiative to improve the health of the country's metropolitan areas (which it defines as, "old and new suburbs, and even exurban and rural areas that, by virtue of their interwoven labor and housing markets, share common economic destinies"). According to Brookings, "Maryland has three of the nation’s 100 largest metropolitan areas —Baltimore, Washington, and Philadelphia — which alone account for 89 percent of the state’s population, 89 percent of the state’s jobs, and 90 percent of the state’s gross domestic product (GDP).
"All six of Maryland’s metros constitute 95 percent of the state’s population, 95 percent of the state’s jobs, and 94 percent of the state’s GDP."
Looking at those numbers helps you understand why Brookings has deemed metropolitan areas so important: they represent the bulk of this country's economic output. (It also makes me wonder why exactly the Philly district extends into Northern Maryland.)
So the institution is putting out whitepapers and advocating policy that will promote new investment, entrepreneurship, diversity, and sustainability.
-Mike
