A varied and vibrant economy

Money -- how to get it and how to spend it -- is the focus of the final installment of Essex County Newspapers' Pulse 2000 series.

This effort, which has involved about 100 people, is designed to focus on business trends _ trends that affect all our daily lives, now and in the future.

The first section was about manufacturing; the second was about health and leisure activities; and the third is about money. All illustrate the varied and vibrant North Shore economy.

During this unusual time of prosperity, many people find themselves faced with hard economic choices. Some can pull together the resources to start a new company, others can take advantage of the stock market while still others find themselves seeking help from social service agencies.

Meanwhile, the financial community itself is undergoing seismic changes. Late last year, Congress struck down restrictions on banks, allowing them to sell stock and insurance. At the same time, community banks are fighting to preserve and expand their niches.

We hope that this section is informative, entertaining and thought-provoking. If you have comments you'd like to share, please e-mail them to mfine@ecnnews.com, mail them to Meredith Fine, Gloucester Daily Times, 36 Whittemore St., Gloucester, Mass., 01930, or call 978-283-7000.

Finally, the Pulse series would not have been possible without the ideas and support of local businesspeople who took the time to attend three focus groups and the extraordinary efforts of our staff.

In particular, thanks to Monique Burns and Merrily Buchs for their editing assistance; graphic artists PJ Ryan and Dan Ryan; and the dozens of reporters, photographers, page designers and advertising staff who made the section a reality.

_Meredith Fine, editor