More than four out five Americans reside in a metropolitan area, and the importance of these regions to the nation's economy is hard to overstate. The Brookings Institution is well aware of the problems and opportunities facing metropolitan areas and they have created this site as a gathering place for policy analysts, planners, and the general public to learn more about metropolitan areas. The site includes research reports, a press room, and a place where visitors can sign up to receive "Metro Update", which is the bi-monthly newsletter of the Brookings Metropolitan Policy Program.