A National System of Metropolitan Infomation and Analysis

The more the population and industries of the United States cluster into metropolitan regions, the greater becomes the need to develop a fitting information capability within these centers. Such a capability needs to encompass a number of elements, ranging from an intergovernmental system of data collection to annual interpretive reporting of the Council-of-Economic-Advisers type, supplying a firm informational base for public policy and private decision making. This paper outlines some major requirements for information about metropolitan regions and suggests possible approaches to meet them.