Many things. We heavily subsidize home ownership, which creates huge disincentives for mobility. In reality we should probably tax it and subsidize renters. W

Many things. We heavily subsidize home ownership, which creates huge disincentives for mobility. In reality we should probably tax it and subsidize renters. We pay people to sit around in their old location rather than moving. Our "disability insurance" program is actually a giant secret welfare program for people who refuse to leave economically depressed areas. http://apps.npr.org/unfit-for-work/ http://apps.npr.org/unfit-for-work/ We drastically restrict housing supply in economically productive areas.