[AccraGhana]

My point is that I do not understand the practical functionality of the metrics. Who does it benefit to know the “influence” of a core city or metropolitan area? Moreover, cities are also ranked. Does the fact that Atlanta proper has a smaller population than Indianapolis or Columbus really mean anything, given that metro Atlanta has triple the population of those metros? Cities are also ranked for their size. Some cities annex land and their population comprises over half the population of their metro totals. Again, such rankings become apples to oranges comparisons. Metropolitan numbers are becoming just as spurious and or amorphous in contrasting and comparing regions.

Lmich, like I said before, the current methodology is the worst methodology there is, except for all others. The fact that I don’t have a better methodology does not dismiss or exonerate the glaring flaws of the current methodology.