True to form, inaction from the federal government has sparked the innovation of states, cities and metropolitan areas that are teeming with smart, pragmatic and bipartisan solutions to national economic challenges.

CNN: States, metro areas outdo Washington

Our numbers are drawn from the U.S. government's National, State and Metropolitan Area Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates.

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State and local government agencies, such as the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning in this fleet management example, can help spur innovation through free market competition.

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