Their achievement was to turn American Survey into a section of interest not just to British readers but also to Americans.

ECONOMIST: Nancy Balfour

Another section of the survey focused on national sporting heroes with Liverpool's Steven Gerrard topping that poll.

BBC: Le Tissier voted as sporting hero

The IEDC survey purports to be a cross-section of viewpoints, based on feedback from 301 people who work in economic development departments, local and state government and nonprofits.

FORBES: New Survey Calls Government Broadband Goals Wimpy