Dr. Mike Walden, North Carolina Cooperative Extension economist in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at N.C. State University, responds:

"Well, I think it is accurate to say that more and more people will be able to work remotely using modern technology, but I think it is inaccurate to, therefore, leap to the conclusion cities will become obsolete. Historically, cities were where people came together to trade goods and services. Today cities are important because it is where ideas are generated. There is still a benefit for folks to get together and collaborate and innovate and think and work together. And that is one of the big functions that cities serve today. And in fact if you look worldwide, cities are actually becoming more important. Here in North Carolina, for example, if you look at the state's six largest cities, their share of total economic output in the state has gone from 42 percent in 1990 to over half - 51 percent - today. So I think large cities are actually on the upswing. Now at the other end of the spectrum, many of our smaller cities especially here in North Carolina are being challenged by our new economy. I think that is where the focus will be on the future of what will be cities."