The Milken Institute’s annual Best-Performing Cities index (released today) ranks American cities based on economic outcomes, not the business climate and quality of life factors that might help create them, so there is no checklist of determinants for success. But if there were, Austin, Texas, would probably tick all the boxes. It has a top-tier university, an educated and growing workforce, a vibrant tech sector, an innovation infrastructure and business climate that promotes growth, and it is the capital of a state benefiting from the resurgence of the energy industry. No surprise, then, that it is No. 1 in our 2013 rankings – reclaiming the position it held two years ago.
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