Metro Monitor 2020 Report Identifies Uneven Growth Around the United States

A record period of U.S. economic prosperity has reshaped the economy of the U.S., in particularly obvious patterns at the metropolitan level. A new Brookings report details the way metro areas have changed.

1 minute read

March 8, 2020, 5:00 AM PDT

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


Manhattan

Zina Seletskaya / Shutterstock

Alan Berube writes to share news of the latest release of the Brookings Institution's Metro Monitor 2020 report on March 5. According to Berube, the report reveals the story of over a decade of economic expansion in the United States, with very large metropolitan areas leading the growth.

On the three growth indicators—changes in GDP, jobs, and jobs at young firms (a proxy for entrepreneurship)—very large metro areas overall outpaced large metro areas, which in turn outpaced midsized metro areas. The same pattern prevailed for prosperity indicators, including changes in average annual wages, output per job (productivity), and output per capita (standard of living). And in overall inclusion, the same positive relationship with metro area size characterized changes in the adult employment rate and median earnings.

Berube's article supplements the website set up to host the new report. The main report's site includes interactive infographics—like the Metro Monitor 2020 Dashboard, for example—which allows breakdowns on demographic performance for specific metropolitan areas. Interactive infographics also present economic data for metropolitan areas and an overall growth index.

Since publication, Patrick Sisson covered the report for Curbed and Stephen Lee Davis promoted the report's findings for Strong Towns.

Thursday, March 5, 2020 in Brookings

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Get top-rated, practical training

High-rise apartment buildings in Waikiki, Hawaii with steep green mountains in background.

Study: Maui’s Plan to Convert Vacation Rentals to Long-Term Housing Could Cause Nearly $1 Billion Economic Loss

The plan would reduce visitor accommodation by 25% resulting in 1,900 jobs lost.

April 6, 2025 - Honolulu Civil Beat

Wastewater pouring out from a pipe.

Alabama: Trump Terminates Settlements for Black Communities Harmed By Raw Sewage

Trump deemed the landmark civil rights agreement “illegal DEI and environmental justice policy.”

April 13, 2025 - Inside Climate News

Blue and white Seattle Link light rail train exiting concrete Downtown Bellevue Tunnel in Bellevue, WA.

Why Should We Subsidize Public Transportation?

Many public transit agencies face financial stress due to rising costs, declining fare revenue, and declining subsidies. Transit advocates must provide a strong business case for increasing public transit funding.

April 7, 2025 - Todd Litman

Silhouette of man holding on to back of bicycle ridden by woman with Eiffel Tower in background.

Paris Bike Boom Leads to Steep Drop in Air Pollution

The French city’s air quality has improved dramatically in the past 20 years, coinciding with a growth in cycling.

4 hours ago - Momentum Magazine

Multifamily housing under construction.

Why Housing Costs More to Build in California Than in Texas

Hard costs like labor and materials combined with ‘soft’ costs such as permitting make building in the San Francisco Bay Area almost three times as costly as in Texas cities.

5 hours ago - San Francisco Chronicle

Western coyote looking at camera in grassy field.

San Diego County Sees a Rise in Urban Coyotes

San Diego County experiences a rise in urban coyotes, as sightings become prevalent throughout its urban neighbourhoods and surrounding areas.

6 hours ago - Fox 5