Economy

CHICAGO - When business executives need to decide about where to locate their companies, they navigate a decision-making process that has always been political in nature. But in today's highly polarized political world, these differences have turned into high-stakes rivalries in the commercial real estate market as states, cities and localities vie for jobs and tax revenue. Last week, the Chicago Chapter of CoreNet Global heard from World Business Chicago about business conditions.

NEW YORK CITY-The economic scenario for 2013 is still a good-news/bad-news picture, thanks in large part to, guess, what? Our elected officials.

TRENTON, NJ-On pace to break occupancy levels recorded prior to the recession, the lodging industry received a major boost in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy from displaced homeowners and construction workers who flocked to the state's hotels and motels in late 2012.

SILICON VALLEY, CA-Not surprisingly, the heat wave is spreading throughout the Valley, says Amber Schiada, research manager of Jones Lang LaSalle.

SANTA MONICA, CA-The storage market is undergoing dynamic change for owner investors of small portfolios and single store investments, says Bill Hobin, president and CEO of the William Warren Group.

Have you followed the recent commentary about law schools in crisis? The three-year curriculum is too long, the cost-benefit isn't there except for tenured law professors, graduates emerge with enormous student debt, there are too few jobs, and far fewer that pay well. Law schools are talking about changing curriculums, possibly cutting a year out. The dirty little secret is—many intelligent college grads could pass the bar exam after taking one of those intense prep courses, certainly without all the law school course padding.