(10-14-2019 08:58 PM)Love and Honor Wrote:  I might look into the details of the study later, but while the findings and comparisons are interesting the concept of an 'economic region' seems a bit loose. The Boston to DC corridor blends together and certainly is connected through cultural and financial means, but I don't think people in Providence and Baltimore would consider themselves in the same sphere as New York. Likewise, you can drive a few hours through boring farmland between Chicago and Minneapolis or Detroit, let alone to Pittsburgh. It's an interesting exercise off course to measure general trends and put the US in perspective, but only goes so far. Which you don't seem to claim anyways, but it's worth pointing out.

I think the point is that they are economically tied whether they consider themselves part of the sphere or not.

Houston and South Louisiana are definitely tied economically. So are Atlanta, Greenville and Charlotte.