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> "Detroit" meant all of the Midwest Not entirely sure about that. Most of the midwest outside the rust belt was not under the influence of Detroit. Chicago fo

by wenc 8y ago

> "Detroit" meant all of the Midwest Not entirely sure about that. Most of the midwest outside the rust belt was not under the influence of Detroit. Chicago for instance was fairly decorrelated to Detroit.

dionidium 8y ago
Chicago is an outlier in most ways, but, still, I’m from St. Louis and a connection to Detroit would be news to me. There are parts manufacturers all over Ohio, for example, but the Midwest is a lot bigger than Ohio.
- wenc 8y ago
  Right. I’ll bet entire states of Nebraska, Iowa, Kansas, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Illinois and Indiana has very little interaction with Detroit either. They were more agricultural by nature so their interactions would be more with Chicago (with its mercantile exchange and transportation). Chicago has always had a diversified economy so has ridden ups and downs relatively well. It’s still the largest city in the Midwest and 3rd largest in the country.
analog31 8y ago
Good point. Chicago somehow maintained a more diverse economy. Rust belt would be a better term.
- phkahler 8y ago
  I hear Chicago is in terrible financial trouble. Perhaps the people and companies are doing OK, but when the city starts going after people for money to repay its debts they may just start leaving. I know a guy who left and feels he got out just in time. He moved to the Detroit area...
  - wenc 8y ago
    > Perhaps the people and companies are doing OK This. Chicago is a bit of a paradox. The city and county are definitely struggling financially due to debt load from crushing pension obligations and historic entitlements (along with a dose of financial mismanagement and corruption -- I mean, this is Illinois). But its economy is actually doing OK. Unlike Detroit, many corporate headquarters are still moving to the city (McDonald's and Discover, for instance, recently moved their HQs to Chicago because of corporate incentives). Chicago is still a major draw for young talent especially around the midwest. The city of Chicago itself is vibrant and has a great deal of creative energy, and despite all the bad press, many people still want to live there. The cultural and intellectual life in the city far surpasses most US metro areas outside of Boston, SF, NY and DC. It is also home to great universities like Northwestern and the University of Chicago. I would say if one doesn't aspire to home ownership, Chicago remains a very attractive destination and a very affordable big city. Renters are mostly doing fine. That said, if you do choose to settle down long term, there are challenges. There's a deep sense that you aren't going to seeing your money's worth in services, and Cook County taxes are going to keep going up.

by wenc 8y ago

dionidium 8y ago

Chicago is an outlier in most ways, but, still, I’m from St. Louis and a connection to Detroit would be news to me. There are parts manufacturers all over Ohio, for example, but the Midwest is a lot bigger than Ohio.

wenc 8y ago
Right. I’ll bet entire states of Nebraska, Iowa, Kansas, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Illinois and Indiana has very little interaction with Detroit either. They were more agricultural by nature so their interactions would be more with Chicago (with its mercantile exchange and transportation). Chicago has always had a diversified economy so has ridden ups and downs relatively well. It’s still the largest city in the Midwest and 3rd largest in the country.

analog31 8y ago

Good point. Chicago somehow maintained a more diverse economy. Rust belt would be a better term.

phkahler 8y ago
I hear Chicago is in terrible financial trouble. Perhaps the people and companies are doing OK, but when the city starts going after people for money to repay its debts they may just start leaving. I know a guy who left and feels he got out just in time. He moved to the Detroit area...
- wenc 8y ago
  > Perhaps the people and companies are doing OK This. Chicago is a bit of a paradox. The city and county are definitely struggling financially due to debt load from crushing pension obligations and historic entitlements (along with a dose of financial mismanagement and corruption -- I mean, this is Illinois). But its economy is actually doing OK. Unlike Detroit, many corporate headquarters are still moving to the city (McDonald's and Discover, for instance, recently moved their HQs to Chicago because of corporate incentives). Chicago is still a major draw for young talent especially around the midwest. The city of Chicago itself is vibrant and has a great deal of creative energy, and despite all the bad press, many people still want to live there. The cultural and intellectual life in the city far surpasses most US metro areas outside of Boston, SF, NY and DC. It is also home to great universities like Northwestern and the University of Chicago. I would say if one doesn't aspire to home ownership, Chicago remains a very attractive destination and a very affordable big city. Renters are mostly doing fine. That said, if you do choose to settle down long term, there are challenges. There's a deep sense that you aren't going to seeing your money's worth in services, and Cook County taxes are going to keep going up.