Joyce Elam, Edwards, Dan and Richard O. Mason
The information age is bringing about a change in the world division of labor.
Many of the great trading cities that arose during the Industrial Revolution
as shipping, railroad, and financial centers are facing new challenges. Information
technology and the changing nature of business and government offer new opportunities,
as well as threats, to these and other cities as they strive to acquire or retain
treasured economic activity. Telecommunications andcomputation capacity are
among the tools cities can use as they compete for this commerce. Several case
studies are reported, and an examination is made of the strategies employed
by large cities such as New York and Boston, progressive cities such as Omaha,
Nebraska, and small cities, such as Heathrow, Florida. Some lessons are: 1.
The telecommunications infrastructure must be designed to fit the city's comparative
advantage. 2. From among the many players, such as city governments and real
estate developers, one must emerge as project champion.