Bigger is not necessarily better. The primary cities of the world face complex challenges that accompany over-population. Knowledge industry employees living in primary cities must endure congestion, pollution, crime, and high cost of living. Secondary cities that offer the same advantages of primary cities, given the appropriate infrastructure and services, will attract growth in knowledge industries and help countries position themselves competitively in the new global economy.

http://news.nus.edu.sg/images/resources/news/2013/2013-10/2013-10-25/PRIME-bt-25oct-p21.pdf

“Prime time for secondary cities.” The Business Times (Singapore), 25 Oct 2013, p. 21, with Asit K. Biswas