Sustainable Prosperity - An Agenda for New England

For the past two years, A.T. Kearney, a global management consulting company and a member of the New England Council, has undertaken a comprehensive study of the New England economy. The purpose of the study was to identify the region's strengths and weaknesses and to focus attention on those areas that require the immediate attention of public and private sector leaders. They have done this work on a pro bono basis. I am pleased to present the result of their work,

The report, "Sustainable Prosperity - An Agenda for New England," identifies five economic levers and the challenges facing them as New England competes with other regions of the country for jobs, people and prosperity. These economic levers include: infrastructure and structural costs; education; regional networks and collaboration; 'brand,' and demographics and immigration.

The study compares New England to areas of the nation with whom we are in direct competition for industries, jobs, and people: Raleigh/Durham, NC; Atlanta; and the Baltimore/Washington, D.C. area. The report highlights successful strategies being employed in those locales to enhance the economic competitiveness of those areas.

While we face many challenges in New England, capitalizing on our strengths will certainly move us forward. We believe the message from the analysis is a call to action among private and public sector leaders and is best captured by several statements that appear in the executive summary:

"It's time for the region to take a close look at its economic engines of growth. Some of these engines aren't running efficiently, and they're holding back the entire economy as a result."

"New England needs to make conscious, strategic choices to shore up its position in industries that align with its strongest, or potentially strongest, growth engines. It needs to strengthen its educational system, creatively lower structural costs and look selectively at other weak links."

"With investment, leadership and collaboration, the New England region could earn higher marks as a favored destination to live, work, and play."

• June 2005: Sustainable Prosperity -- An Agenda for New England