Top Tech Towns
John M. Eger, Newsweek, Letters, November 30, 1998
Congratulations on your superb coverage of "The Hottest Tech Cities" (Focus on Technology, Nov. 9). Like you, we believe there is a major change taking place in the basic structure of the economy. The production, storage and transfer of knowledge are the basis of wealth in this new economy. High-tech cities like those you named are the ones attracting knowledge industries, generating knowledge-based products and repositioning themselves for the new information economy. Our research suggests there are at least three characteristics in addition to those you cite of "high tech" cities, or, as we call them, "smart communities." One is that cities of the future are not cities in the usual sense. Rather, they are powerful regional economies built on collaboration and cooperation among government, industry and municipalities within a geographical region. Second, while high-tech cities rely on technology to create new ways of doing business, the end result is not technology. Rather, it is more jobs, dollars and a renewed sense of civic pride and quality of life. Third, we believe it is imperative that communities recognize that this change is about empowerment and the importance of shared governance. Collaborative decision-making mechanisms, community Web sites, revitalization of downtowns and robust centers of culture are essential ingredients to building the smart and sustainable communities of the 21st century.