n the northeastern U.S. you can still see remnants of the earliest days of the industrial revolution. But the future of the American economy is also on display in states such as New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania, where leading-edge firms in the life sciences, nanotechnology, logistics and media now drive job growth and real estate activity.
      Shirt-sleeve winters and rock-bottom business costs aren't among the reasons why. Instead, these states rely on strong transportation systems, nimble labor resources and a population density that offers companies immediate access to millions of well-heeled U.S. and Canadian consumers.
      Creativity also accounts for the region's competitiveness. Its leaders, after all, began seeking ways to stem job losses decades ago when U.S. manufacturers discovered cheap land and non-unionized labor Down South. Unlike some states, the forceful headwinds of globalization have not caught the northeast flatfooted.
      The result: businesses from both Old Economy and New continue to find conducive homes in every corner of the three states.