I just added The New Geography of Jobs by Enrico Moretti to the Recommended Reading section.   Cal-Berkley economics professor Moretti studies why jobs locate where they do in this fascinating and revealing work.    Many of the key factors (and beneficiaries) defy what some would call conventional wisdom.

If you are a local elected official or hold a decision making spot in local government or public education I think this is a must read.   I warn my political junkies that while it will inform you it is written to be apolitical.