The Washington DC MSA is, by population, the 6th largest MSA in the United States[1]. It also the 2nd most highly educated MSA in the US, by some measures[2]. The top three- and four of the top 6- richest counties in the country are part of the Washington DC MSA[3].
Given (2) and (3), the fact that it produces more than the fifth largest MSA by population in the country (Houston) should not surprise. The top four MSA's by population and by GDP are the same, in the same order- the one that is truly punching above its weight is the Bay Area, which is the 6th largest by GDP but the 12th by population.[4]
TIL. Thanks! I wondered if it was IPR income declared in the DC area but activity elsewhere but it looks like things happen beyond lobbying and CEO decision making there. I've only ever dealt with NFPs In the beltway.
Given (2) and (3), the fact that it produces more than the fifth largest MSA by population in the country (Houston) should not surprise. The top four MSA's by population and by GDP are the same, in the same order- the one that is truly punching above its weight is the Bay Area, which is the 6th largest by GDP but the 12th by population.[4]
[1]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_metropolitan_statistic... [2]: https://www.cnbc.com/2018/07/26/the-10-most-and-least-educat... [3]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_highest-income_countie... [4]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_U.S._metropolitan_area...