Atlanta's most important asset (Kennesaw, Dallas: credit, transfer, schools)

[DaBurgh]

Atlanta women

[gtcorndog]

Streetcars

[flamadiddle]

Underground

[Atlwarrior]

Airport, Corporate Headquarters, Universities, Location, Cheap Housing,

[MathmanMathman]

Originally Posted by magnetar

I don't know if the "unfortunately" qualifier is necessary; with a list of well-known colleges too long to list and multiple Fortune 500 businesses, Atlanta holds its own in those categories too. It's just a side effect of the fact that Atlanta's airport is so dominant among others in the nation, if not the world, that the airport is so clearly our top asset.

No, the list of colleges is not that long.

[Mike_IN_AUG]

"Our SINGLE biggest asset is none of which you mention.

Those are all byproducts of our single greatest asset.

Our asset is geographic location."

in my initial post, I wrote-

"The airport is a simple play on being in the right place at the right time and adjusting for the growth of travel for the region ATL serves"

basically geography.

[Mike_IN_AUG]

For the comment about Atlantan's being the key resource, this is a very real argument, as a city is basically a facilitation of divided labor and hence, more expertise and optimization in services, the better the economy. Lack of natural resources, geography of trade and regulations can be overcome by smart people. It is however, kind of a larger picture look, while the other three options are tangible and in easy view.

[Mike_IN_AUG]

For the comment about corporate executives flying out of Atlanta- I think the airport will continue to play its dominant role in businesses locating, as it allows them the lowest cost jump-start to get in the world markets. The market is rewarding Atlanta companies because they are undercutting everyone. Where else can you get the exposure that the ATL has?

Edinburgh, London, Frankfurt, Dusseldorf, Basil, Milan, Tokyo, Hong Kong, Bangkok, Singapore, San Francisco, Chicago, New York, Boston, Philadelphia?

Atlanta is comparable to all of these cities in many ways and is the cheapest place to run a business, therefore it will slaughter companies based elsewhere naturally. The mix of factors fueling this low cost will be the key to future growth, from a more technical point of view. As the emerging market cities develop they will steal growth from Atl, as they will be even cheaper, unless ATL can add additional value from its weight already, such as its ascending point as higher and higher on financial center importance, logistical breakdown point and else. Atlanta does not have a lot of commitment though and they are having a hard time keeping businesses there.

Atlantas economy has been largely cyclical, it will need some more secular elements to provide more dependable growth.

I am tired, good night!

[Mike_IN_AUG]

also Atl needs exposure to far East for future world trade

[Larry X]

Music/Entertainment business.