Mastering the Metro: How Metropolitan Regions Can Win Friends and Influence Economies

The collapse of the consumption-driven, domestic-focused growth model is giving rise to new thinking about a next economy that is fuelled by innovation, powered by low-carbon processes and products, driven by exports and rich with opportunity. These aspects of the next economy require metropolitan leaders to cultivate peer networks for improving collaboration and setting platforms for sustainable economic growth.

In an essay for Next American City, Bruce Katz and Jennifer Bradley highlight ways metropolitan areas can effectively share expertise. They call for metro areas to use the proper metrics to assess their unique competitive assets, expand metropolitan relationships beyond U.S. borders, and provide visionary leadership to set foundations for long-term prosperity.

The authors also encourage leaders to engage directly among each other and with constituents by using technology and social media to bolster networks.