2016 is gone, 2017 is here. Here’s a look back at the most popular stories at New Geography in 2016. Happy New Year, and thanks for reading.
12. This is Why You Can’t Afford a House. Back in February, Joel Kotkin made the case that housing costs are a huge burden on America’s middle class and argued for more discussion on the topic at the national level. This piece was also published by The Daily Beast.
11. Super Bowl: Super Subsidy Sunday. Just in time for last year’s Super Bowl, Matthew Stevenson outlined the massive public subsides enjoyed by pro sports franchises.
10. The New War Between States. In this Real Clear Politics Essay, Joel points out the variation in economic DNA across different regions of the country and the need to adjust policy to leverage those differences as a national competitive advantage.
9. What Happens When Wal-Mart Dumps You. Joel breaks down the future of the retail industry and its potential impacts on communities of all types: urban areas, suburbs, and small towns. This piece was also published by The Daily Beast.
8. Farewell Grand Old Party. From his weekly Orange County Register column, Joel notes how the rise of Trump signals a turning point for the Republican Party.
7. America’s Next Boom Towns: Regions to Watch in 2016. One year ago Joel and I created an index to identify some of the best-performing large U.S. metropolitan areas. This piece appeared in Forbes.
6. Best Cities for Jobs 2016. Our annual Best Cities for Jobs index ranks all of America’s metropolitan areas according to short- and longer-term job growth performance. Follow the link to see the various topical rankings.
5. New York’s Incredible Subway. In this piece Wendell Cox describes New York City’s subway system, unlike any other transit system in the United States.
4. Best and Worst: 2015 International Housing Affordability Survey. Wendell’s Annual Demographia International Housing Affordability Survey is a critical comprehensive reference on worldwide housing affordability by urban area. Here’s the highlights of the report.
3. Today’s Tech Oligarch’s are Worse than the Robber Barons. Joel argues that the political influence of high-tech business leaders are worse than the robber barons of the last century because today’s tech firms offer little to improve the lives of the middle class.
2. An Open Letter to the Democratic National Committee from a Rural Democrat. Former North Dakota State Senator Tyler Axness offers his advice to Democratic Party leaders from the perspective of rural America.
1. Largest Cities in the World: 2016. Wendell’s annual World Urban Areas report is perhaps the most comprehensive resource for worldwide urban population data. This April 2016 article summarizes the report.
Mark Schill is a community and corporate strategy consultant with Praxis Strategy Group and Managing Editor of New Geography.
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