But what does this trend in competition do for the cities? The answer is certainly not definitive, but in its emerging outlines, it is disturbing yet also offers hope. To the extent that this tendency makes cheap labor locations around the world more accessible, it fur- ther amplifies the competitive disadvantage of urban locations in the United States. The impact of increases in trade with low-wage countries on . employment, especially on low-skilled workers, has been hotly debated (Freeman, 1995; Wood, 1995). Although there are exceptions, such as Adrian Wood’s viewpoint, most economists see the overall impact as moderate, noting that only a modest proportion of workers.
