Photo credit: Evan Vucci

The Middle East Could Use Less Warfare and More Capitalism

by Joel Kotkin — Jet fighters, smart bombs, terrorism and ethnic cleansing have not exactly improved the Middle East. Yet the perennial world trouble spot is not without resources — an increasingly educated population, massive energy resources and ample capital…

California Governor Jerry Brown

Brownout

Jerry Brown’s long political career will likely end in January 2019, when the 80-year-old’s second stint as California governor concludes. In the media’s eyes—and in his own mind—Brown’s gubernatorial encore has been a rousing success.

The outer urban fringe are where the American dream is being rediscovered.

The Fight For Our Future Belongs to the ‘Burbs

by Joel Kotkin and Wendell Cox — Look away from President Trump and it’s easier to see how three long-term demographic and geographic trends are reshaping American politics. The demography favors Democrats. The geography, on the other hand, favors Republicans.

Tianjin Port Alliance

Trump’s Opposition to Unrestricted Globalism Might Prove a Historical Necessity

Ever since the Second World War, the United States was able to both lead and effectively subsidize the rest of the world. Trump’s “America First” approach is crudely stated and has bad antecedents, but, frankly, where was the other strategy getting us?

The Cities Creating The Most White-Collar Jobs, 2018

by Joel Kotkin and Dr. Michael Shires — Professional and business services have long been identified with downtown New York, Chicago and San Francisco, where lawyers, accountants and architects are thick on the ground. However, in recent years there’s been a clear shift in the geography of this vital sector…

Where U.S. Manufacturing is Thriving, 2018

by Joel Kotkin and Dr. Michael Shires — ‘80s futurist John Naisbitt once called manufacturing a “a declining sport,” and the share of Americans working in factories has fallen from 30% to roughly 8.5%. Yet, manufacturing’s contributions to the economy are far out of proportion to its shrinking share of employment.

Downtown Provo, Utah

Growth in America is Tilting Toward Smaller Cities

by Joel Kotkin and Michael Shires – We are often told that America’s future lies in our big cities. That may no longer be entirely true. Some of the strongest job creation and population growth is now occurring in smaller cities of 1 million people or less.

Photo credit: Nashville Skyline by Peter Miller

Finance Flies West, and South

The recently announced departure of New York City-based Alliance Bernstein for Nashville, taking more than 1,000 jobs with it, suggests a potential loosening of New York’s iron grip on the financial-services industry. Other forces are at work, too, notably demographic shifts to Sunbelt states and the growing influence of technology companies on finance.

Big Tex is reflected in Simone Elices' sunglasses in Dallas on Sept. 23, 2016. (Paul Moseley/Fort Worth Star-Telegram/TNS via Getty Images)

The Best Cities For Jobs 2018: Dallas And Austin Lead The Surging South

by Joel Kotkin and Michael Shires — Among America’s largest metropolitan areas, the economic leaders come in two flavors: Southern-fried and West Coast organic. The first group flourishes across a broad range of industries, fed by strong domestic in-migration and a friendly business climate.

Talent search in business setting

Where Talent Wants to Live

by Joel Kotkin and Wendell Cox – With unemployment down and wages rising, there’s growing concern that a lengthy and potentially crippling talent shortage will sweep the U.S. Addressing this could become a critical issue for businesses competing with Asian and European firms facing similar and, in many ways, more severe shortages.