Bruce Katz and Jeremy Nowak, co-founders of New Localism Advisors, have a new book on how cities can lead progress in an age of populism. Katz is familiar to many of us because he has spoken here as part of the Tomorrow Plan speaker series.

In their new book, “The New Localism,” on Brookings Institution Press, Katz and Nowak detail what they see as sources of power to address social, economic and environmental issues.

The bottom line: Metro areas are getting more powerful as national governments struggle to make progress. The new localism comes out of necessity, they write, because of challenges in economic economic competitiveness, social inclusion and opportunity, and environmental sustainability.

“Where rising populism on the right and the left exploits the grievances of those left behind in the global economy, new localism has developed as a mechanism to address them head on,” Brookings reports in its promotional materials.

“New localism is not a replacement for the vital roles federal governments play; it is the ideal complement to an effective federal government, and, currently, an urgently needed remedy for national dysfunction.”

There are examples. Pittsburgh is working on inclusion by pushing new industries and technologies. Indianapolis is governing its city and metro area with a network of public, private and civic leaders. Copenhagen is using public assets like the waterfront to spur growth.

Read our previous story on Katz’s Des Moines appearance.