Portland's location is beneficial for several industries.
Relatively low energy cost, accessible resources, north–south and east–west
Interstates, international air terminals, large marine shipping facilities, and
both west coast intercontinental railroads are all economic advantages. The US
consulting firm Mercer, in a 2009 assessment "conducted to help
governments and major companies place employees on international
assignments", ranked Portland 42nd worldwide in quality of living; the
survey factored in political stability, personal freedom, sanitation, crime,
housing, the natural
