Comparing Metro Phoenix
Since regional economies compete for investments, business activities and residency of highly mobile organizations and workforces, it is critical to understand Phoenix and Arizona's economic competitiveness in the context of the regions with which it competes. The metropolitan statistical areas (MSA) and states of Austin, Texas; Atlanta, Georgia; Denver, Colorado; Portland, Oregon; Raleigh, North Carolina; Salt Lake City, Utah; San Diego and San Jose, California; and Seattle, Washington were selected as comparative regions based on the similar size, proximal geography or composition of their economies.
Indicators of the strength and quality of the economy, environment and education system have been assembled to determine the underlying trends of our development trajectory and assess if we are excelling, keeping pace or falling behind other regions. While any finite set of indicators cannot wholly describe the competitiveness and prosperity of a region, these indicators measure, for example, individual well-being through per capita personal income and average wage; progress in developing a knowledge economy by measuring the number of patents granted and employment by occupation; and the sustainability of economic growth by comparing air and water quality.
