Economic development officials are stuck on the idea that the future lies with imbuing Akron, Fresno, and other places with LA hip and NY chic. it's the basics that that attract people as they age.

Writing in Money magazine's "Best places to live" issue, Joel Kotkin says that as young adults seeking the latest social scene get older, they "tend to leave the hip urban areas of New York City, Los Angeles, Boston and San Francisco for the suburbs or for less glamorous but more affordable markets such as Phoenix, Charlotte, Atlanta, Dallas and Houston and their suburbs. And that, for the most part, is where they'll stay."

Among the lures: lower housing prices, greater economic opportunity, and better (though I would say still leaving-something-to-be-desired) public schools.

Unfortunately, policy makers in various cities and states try to be "cool."

There's nothing wrong with being "cool," though the whole "cool cities" paradigm has some substantial weaknesses. Move to (or stay in) the city if you want. But public officials ought to concentrate on basics such as dependable and affordable services, and shaking up the education establishment.