Economy

Chicago's economy is currently expanding at an incredible rate. Here's how the rich are getting richer.
The city has always been well-placed to handle trade. Since the breakup of the United States, new nations have begun specialized production of certain goods and have increased imports and exports. This means tariffs, and O'Hare gets a piece of all the money changing hands. Chicago also serves as the hub for all the train lines in North America. Chicago's slmsense hardware and software, cattle, chemical goods, and steel products are now shipped across the continent.
Speaking of simsense, no company is currently doing better than Truman in the midscale market. The products are lower quality than Fuchi's, but Truman can really market its technology. Close ties to Fox Simsense, Brilliant Genesis, and Living Life Productions give them plenty of software to support its systems.
Dream Town Is making a big name for itself. The employees there are quickly getting rich off their residuals, and more and more writers, actors, directors, and engineers are flocking to the Westside to get in while the boom is on. Just as Hollywood was synonymous with movies in the past, Chicago ls becoming the production town for simsense (and BTLs). Information from other parts of the world indicates that simply having the name Chicago on a simsense chip marks it as a quality product.
Even higher society than Dream Town is the Elevated City. Each of the megacorps has glittering spires in the new downtown that are small archologies unto themselves. The first six floors of these malls, living spaces, and offices are open to any who look like they belong, but security becomes much more tight on the seventh floor and above. The Skytrack monorail links all of these buildings, and in public the corps and government are all smiles and cooperation, while the shadows of Chicago are thick with intrigue.
The meat market is thriving here, but retail prices are so high locally and throughout UCAS that most Chicagoans can't afford to put meat on their tables. The prices of other natural foods are jacked up as soon as the trains come into the city. Like other major cities, Chicago has had Its share of food riots. People who can afford a good meal every night are those who have money to burn.
Cyberware is also a bit more expensive in Chicago, mostly due to a hefty city tax imposed to generate income. Most cyberware runs 5 to 10 percent higher than standard catalog prices.