3 ms·

You're right in some sense. It is problematic if we start subsidising people to stay in wealthy/expensive areas, but the alternative also have snags. I think y

by netcan 17y ago

You're right in some sense. It is problematic if we start subsidising people to stay in wealthy/expensive areas, but the alternative also have snags. I think your Texas exampls is a bit of a red herring. As a general principle employment, housing costs & affluence come together. Also, there is a big difference between moving in a planned way to take advantage of lower costs or better employment prospects and being driven there in desperation with nothing in your pocket. The latter can lead to longer term unemployment.

bretpiatt 17y ago
I live in San Antonio and it isn't a red herring. You can rent in a nice area of San Antonio for $399-$500/month which would leave her plenty of money to get a used car even with poor credit. (Example property: http://bit.ly/c5pJQb http://bit.ly/c5pJQb ) As of December 2009 numbers San Antonio is 3rd in the nation with only a 6.8% unemployment rate. ( http://www.bls.gov/web/laulrgma.htm http://www.bls.gov/web/laulrgma.htm ) After living here for a year if she still can't find work as a Texas resident community college is almost free. People get to a point where they're afraid to do anything. It isn't that they don't want to improve their life but the stress of the situation shuts them down and they can't act. This isn't something easy to fix.
- netcan 17y ago
  I didn't mean that it was untrue, just that it's not indicative of a wider reality.
natrius 17y ago
How is Texas a red herring? http://www.forbes.com/2008/10/10/cities-buck-economy-forbeslife-cx_ab_1010realestate.html http://www.forbes.com/2008/10/10/cities-buck-economy-forbesl... Summary: Texas cities are among those with the best employment outlooks, and are among those where median incomes support a higher standard of living. EDIT: I read your other reply now. There is a spectrum of income to cost of living ratios across the country. We should encourage people who can't afford their current location to move to places with better ratios.
- netcan 17y ago
  You are right in general principle. Relocation to places that make more sense in terms of employment prospects & cost of living is rational and probably efficient. We shouldn't be preventing it. However, there is a big difference between moving someplace with better prospects in a planned and controlled way and being driven there by crisis. The latter would most likely see the woman in the article move to a cheaper place within 1-2 hours of here current home. This means she would be disconnected from the people she knows and less likely to find employment for both psychological reasons like disempowerment (many of the individual reasons for unemployment are here) and practical reasons (jobs often come from people you know). It is the difference between losing your old life and "ending up" somewhere & going somewhere where the prospects are good.

by netcan 17y ago

bretpiatt 17y ago

I live in San Antonio and it isn't a red herring. You can rent in a nice area of San Antonio for $399-$500/month which would leave her plenty of money to get a used car even with poor credit. (Example property: http://bit.ly/c5pJQb http://bit.ly/c5pJQb ) As of December 2009 numbers San Antonio is 3rd in the nation with only a 6.8% unemployment rate. ( http://www.bls.gov/web/laulrgma.htm http://www.bls.gov/web/laulrgma.htm ) After living here for a year if she still can't find work as a Texas resident community college is almost free. People get to a point where they're afraid to do anything. It isn't that they don't want to improve their life but the stress of the situation shuts them down and they can't act. This isn't something easy to fix.

netcan 17y ago
I didn't mean that it was untrue, just that it's not indicative of a wider reality.

natrius 17y ago

How is Texas a red herring? http://www.forbes.com/2008/10/10/cities-buck-economy-forbeslife-cx_ab_1010realestate.html http://www.forbes.com/2008/10/10/cities-buck-economy-forbesl... Summary: Texas cities are among those with the best employment outlooks, and are among those where median incomes support a higher standard of living. EDIT: I read your other reply now. There is a spectrum of income to cost of living ratios across the country. We should encourage people who can't afford their current location to move to places with better ratios.

netcan 17y ago
You are right in general principle. Relocation to places that make more sense in terms of employment prospects & cost of living is rational and probably efficient. We shouldn't be preventing it. However, there is a big difference between moving someplace with better prospects in a planned and controlled way and being driven there by crisis. The latter would most likely see the woman in the article move to a cheaper place within 1-2 hours of here current home. This means she would be disconnected from the people she knows and less likely to find employment for both psychological reasons like disempowerment (many of the individual reasons for unemployment are here) and practical reasons (jobs often come from people you know). It is the difference between losing your old life and "ending up" somewhere & going somewhere where the prospects are good.