Economic Role of Cities in the 21st Century
The paper discusses some of the economic functions of cities, focusing on economic activities that make firms in cities more productive and more attractive to urban households.According to the author, agglomeration economies are increasingly concentrated on the consumption side and quality of life issues have become a more important determinant of where people choose to live.
Link
http://www.phil.frb.org/files/br/Q3_05_Carlino.pdf