

We believe every community can be prosperous, just, and resilient – no matter its starting point.
As Brookings Metro enters its next 25 years of impact, we have redoubled our commitment to local leaders. In collaboration, we will help them transform original research insights into policy and practical solutions that scale nationwide.
Read more about Brookings Metro, our 25th anniversary campaign, and our vision for the future.
The Latest

Why are young people driving less? Evidence points to economics, not preferences
Trends in driving behavior over the last 20 years have led to speculation about a less car-centric urban future. Young adults are less likely to have access to a vehicle in their home and are less likely to have a driver’s license. At first glance, this might appear to be a win for the city […]

Breaking the ‘urban doom loop’: The future of downtowns is shared prosperity
In 2019, the skylines of many American downtowns were sparkling with new construction. Hudson Yards in New York, the Frost Tower in San Antonio, San Francisco’s Salesforce Tower, the futuristic Amazon Spheres and surrounding towers in Seattle, and thousands of other buildings were all part of the more than 100 million square feet of new […]

Washington may be about to take a giant step backward in closing the digital divide
The North Star of communications policy should be to make services faster, better, and cheaper for all. Yet, next year, about 50 million Americans could find that their access to the core communications service of our time—broadband—has become slower, worse, and more expensive, with many even likely to be disconnected. That shift would constitute the […]

The American Rescue Plan, two years later: Analyzing local governments’ efforts at equitable, transformative change
When Congress passed the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) two years ago this month, then-Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) heralded it as “historic, consequential and transformative legislation.” Of the $1.9 trillion in economic relief the law provided, $350 billion in fiscal aid went directly to state, local, and tribal governments through the State and Local Fiscal […]
Focus Areas
Informing local and state recovery strategies in ways that link near-term resilience to longer-term economic transformation, racial equity, and economic inclusion.
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