The 2008 presidential election comes at a remarkable juncture. Not only will no incumbent president or vice president be running for the presidency—paving the way for a wide open contest of ideas—but the vote will occur amid an environment of dynamic, sometimes unsettling, forces now transforming the world in which Americans live.
Increasing global competition, economic restructuring at home, rapid population growth, and other forces are rewriting the rules for how we produce jobs, build wealth, and conserve our natural resources. New federal policies and approaches are imperative if our nation is to effectively adapt to this new reality and enable American firms, workers, and families to thrive.
In response, the Metropolitan Policy Program at Brookings is developing the Blueprint for American Prosperity in advance of the 2008 vote.
Designed to help federal leaders and their state and local partners adapt to rapid change, the Blueprint envisions a multi-year series of partnerships, public events, and publications premised on one abiding conviction: The very assets needed to prosper today are rooted in our metropolitan areas—the nation’s interconnected web of cities, suburbs, and counties now home to more than eight in 10 Americans and their jobs.
From New York and Des Moines to Los Angeles and Charleston, metropolitan areas large and small constitute the engines of American prosperity and are the building blocks of the 21st century economy.
Ultimately, we hope the Blueprint sparks a rich national debate about America’s future.
