As for Lawrence, bash it all you want. It's a great place to go to school. The economy does suck if you're looking for a post-graduate job, but it's a fun college town with some character, and it has a really cool vibe. An economic study isn't going to look favorably on a place like Lawrence, though, because there's no military base to give it long-term stability and the medical center is in KC. The economy centers around KU and Mass Street, basically.