> I seriously struggle understanding why at least tech jobs are so centered around crowded cities Because major (FAANG et al) tech companies are cross-invested

> I seriously struggle understanding why at least tech jobs are so centered around crowded cities Because major (FAANG et al) tech companies are cross-invested with rental/housing businesses[0]. This means that concurrent increases in rent and salary have no effect; employees make 1000$/yr more but pay 1000$/yr more in rent, company('s shareholders) makes 1M$/yr of extra rent but pays 1M$/yr more in salary. Except when the employee tries to switch jobs they're under incresed time pressure (before they run out of savings and can't afford rent), and all of the tech companies benefit from their hiring candidates having less leverage. Note that this doesn't require any communication between companies; each company can see that the situation benefits them based solely on public information, and cross-investment means each company loses nothing by hiking rent and salary simultaneously. 0: Either directly owning them or, more covertly, by most of their shareholders also owning housing stocks.