"are the smaller, lower-tier cities necessary in order to have that healthy ecosystem?" And that question can be rephrased as "Do smaller, lower-tier cities co

"are the smaller, lower-tier cities necessary in order to have that healthy ecosystem?" And that question can be rephrased as "Do smaller, lower-tier cities contribute to a socially and economically healthy America?" Don't get me wrong, I really, really want there to be a reason for cities of 50K-500K to exist. Unfortunately, I think it's too small of a labor market for talented but not self-suffiently entrepreneurial people to bother staying in. The only towns this size that are prospering outside of major metros are state capitals or college towns, which benefit from a large, captive employer.