Like many national capitals, Washington, D.C., is often accused of being insulated from the economic realities of the rest of the country. In colloquial terms, it is frequently referred to as a bubble city. If Washington is indeed sheltered from the discipline and competition that pervades the rest of the country, then serious questions need to be asked about its ability to make decisions for the nation and whether the country would be better served with decisions being made more locally.

Examining the economic data for cities like Washington can be challenging because there is such a high rate of people working in the city but who live nearby in other states, such as Maryland and Virginia.