This report was written at the end of the 20th century, and it reflects on the state of the world at the time — in particular, it addresses the downfall of the Soviet Union. On a smaller scale, the report also analyzes the interconnectedness of the northeastern United States, and then zooms in to focus on New England and the various urban centers contained within. These cities and their surrounding transportation infrastructures are used as a lens with which to study the economic state of the region as a whole.