S.F. Bay Area loses "Most Productive Region" title to Boston MA

[Bush_Eats_Beef]

Report finds Bay Area growing, but facing big challenges
Silicon Valley/San Jose Business Journal - 6:50 AM PST Friday

http://www.bizjournals.com/sanjose/stories/2006/03/20/daily59.html?f=et79&hbx=e_du

The Bay Area's talent base is slipping away as baby boomers retire, workers are squeezed out by the high cost of living and foreign professionals move back home, a report released Friday said. The Bay Area Economic Forum said that despite that draining threat, the region's economy is now larger than at the height of the dot-com bubble, outpacing its 2000 gross domestic product by $17 billion in 2004.

The region, however, has lost the "Most Productive Region" title to Boston, the report said. Though the Bay Area was the top performer in productivity for most of the past 10 years and has steadily outpaced U.S. average growth, the report reveals that Boston has surpassed it since 2001. The average Boston worker now produces $54,000 worth of goods and services each year, compared to the average Bay Area worker's $51,000. Both easily exceed the U.S. average of $40,000.

The report shows that economic diversity played a central role in the Bay Area's recovery from the tech bust, as growth in sectors such as financial services offset declines in electronics and computer manufacturing. "The Bay Area is exceptionally innovative and continually reinvents itself," said Sean Randolph, president and CEO of the Bay Area Economic Forum.

---SNIP---

The report says the Bay Area faces a dual challenge. First, its schools must prepare all segments of the population to succeed in the sophisticated local economy. Second, the region has to better attract and retain talent, by addressing its high cost of living - especially housing - and the strained infrastructure.

[stillcool]

1. here's a hot number on an "Off-Shoring report"...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x744820
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2006/3/24/132216/297

Offshoring Report SUPRESSED
by BobOak
Fri Mar 24, 2006 at 11:22:16 AM PDT
CONGRESS is being denied access to the facts on offshore outsourcing.

In November 2003, Congress directed the US Department of Commerce to complete a study on offshoring for delivery in June 2004. The 200 page study was completed by Commerce Department analysts but was never released. Instead, after more than a year of wrangling, a 12 page document, written by political appointees, was released in September 2005. The 12 page document only highlights the positives of offshoring. The original study has never been released even though it cost taxpayers $335,000. Congress cannot obtain a copy of the study from Commerce.

BobOak's diary :: ::
The American public paid $335,000, for this study and has a right to see it. This is simply good and transparent government. But the Commerce Department is rebuffing any attempts by those seeking its release.

The latest polls show that global economic competition and the outsourcing of jobs is the number one issue for Americans, even overtaking the War. We should have as much information about this phenomenon as possible.

House Dems have demanded to see the original data in Res. 717. However, it isn't clear whether the resolution will pass. The issue may fall along party lines, with Democrats for release and Republicans against. There are 24 Republicans to 20 Democrats on this committee. Even more politically absurd is a party line vote doesn't make sense since Republican Congressman Frank Wolk (VA) requested the study originally.

...way more at Kos Link.....