Report

Istock Photos/kayglobal - Washington DC at twilight with Capitol, Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial in a line and with Memorial Bridge and Potomac River in foreground.
Benjamin Orr, December 15, 2009
This Metro D.C. Monitor, second of a quarterly series and a supplement to the MetroMonitor, tracks five key third quarter economic indicators in the Washington region. The region has mostly been spared the worst of the crisis: Output has grown throughout and employment remained relatively strong. However, the housing market was weaker than most. Moreover, economic recovery within the region was uneven as several jurisdictions continued to face multiple challenges.
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U.S. Economic Growth, Cities, Housing, Washington DC
SPOTLIGHT: Economic Mobility

Istock Photos/Alex Gumerov – A group of students sit at their desks in college a classroom
Martha Ross and Alice M. Rivlin, November 20, 2009
A report commissioned by Greater Washington Research at Brookings and DC Appleseed underscores the need for a strong community college in the District of Columbia. The report, conducted by JBL Associates, recognizes the steps already taken by the new Community College of the District of Columbia (CCDC) and recommends that the city support CCDC in moving towards independence from the University of the District of Columbia, with its own administration, board of trustees, budget and academic accreditation.
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Economic Mobility, Education, U.S. Higher Education, Washington DC, Cities
SPOTLIGHT: Washington DC

Istock Photos/Amanda Rohde - Smart investments
Alice M. Rivlin, November 18, 2009
Testifying before the U.S. House Subcommittee on the Federal Workforce, Postal Service and the District of Columbia, Alice M. Rivlin, Director of Greater Washington Research at Brookings, asserted that the District of Columbia government should have greater autonomy over its own budget. Once the District government finalizes its budget spending out of its own source revenues, Dr. Rivlin states that it should not be altered or delayed by Congress.
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Washington DC, Fiscal Policy, Governance