You might be wondering if Philadelphia is in a recession or not. Well, apparently we are, according to this map that The New York Times created. It shows which cities are in a recession or on the brink of one.  The economic slowdown is taking its toll on cities nationwide. Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter is expected to announce sometime this week how the city is going to tackle a projected five-year budget deficit valued between $650 and $850 million. The result could mean an overall slash in city services, which raises questions about what type of quality of life our city can maintain.

But there’s some good news. A recent BusinessWeek article claims Philadelphia is among a group of cities best equipped to weather a recession. There are a couple of reasons why. One big reason, economists say, is that health care and higher education are thriving sectors here. As a result, these two sectors will remain in demand because people still need medical attention and will enroll in classes to gain new skills. Another reason, economists speculate, is Philadelphia could become a popular tourist destination for folks in the mid-Atlantic region not wanting to burn gas on big trips or shell out for airline tickets. Here’s the link to the article where you can read how other cities compare to us.

(photo by Flickr User Leo Reynolds)