Blue cities like Seattle at the center of progressive populism

Commenting on mayoral assertions that cities are where the action is, Kotkin writes, “It’s hard to underestimate the hubris of this assessment … the vast majority of American demographic growth and job growth continues to go either into the suburban rings or to low-density sprawling regions.”

For a time, cities like Seattle can withstand the costs of high taxes, mandated employee compensation and extraordinary regulatory burdens. The benefits of being in a dynamic city with extraordinary resources – professional sports, the arts, universities and research institutions, transportation networks and skilled labor – can temporarily offset high costs.

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