3 ms·

My favorite entirety ad-hoc local economic status indicator in the US is this: Pick a fast food place at random, order a numbered meal. Were you served promptl

My favorite entirety ad-hoc local economic status indicator in the US is this: Pick a fast food place at random, order a numbered meal. Were you served promptly with hot food in a very clean establishment with professional staff whose average age is about 35? The local economy is fucked. Did you get a totally halfassed food like object that is ostensibly warm handed to you by someone 25 or younger who clearly doesn’t give a shit? Local economy is doing just fine.

nradov 6y ago
I remember after the first dot-com bubble burst back in 2001 the service level in Bay Area restaurants got noticeably better.
mdocherty 6y ago
That's interesting, I saw that first hand in January staying the night in twin falls-idaho. It must be doing really well. Seattle where I live, not so much. Is this something you have read about before? Or just an observation?
- Izkata 6y ago
  I've read variations on it a few times. The idea is that older people who get laid off in a recession still need to get a paycheck, are willing to work for less to get something, and so end up beating out the younger people who'd normally be in these jobs just entering the workforce / doing it part-time.
true_religion 6y ago
I can give you an annectdote. Arlington, VA is the richest county in the state. Every fast food place will feature an immigrant staff which is hard working and punctual. Prince Williams County is rural, think forests and trailer parks, but the fast food joints are all staffed by bored teenagers and high college students. Checking who is the lowest on the income totem pole just seems to show if the economic situation for all adults is stable or not. Now it could be unstable due to a bad economy leading to older adults getting fired from better jobs. But it could also be due to other reasons like immigrants moving to a new area; or retirees becoming bored with their empty nests.
- TheCoelacanth 6y ago
  In places with a large immigrant population, you can replace it with English-speaking ability. Fluent: economy is fucked. Poor: economy is doing well.
bluefirebrand 6y ago
Where I live, fast food places are almost all fully staffed by ESL adults. I can't remember the last time I was served at a restaurant by a teen. It's actually kind of weird because I feel like we are creating an immigrant underclass to staff our fast food places, works as janitors, etc. I'm not sure that is the goal of Canada's immigration policies, but it does seem to be one outcome at least.

nradov 6y ago

I remember after the first dot-com bubble burst back in 2001 the service level in Bay Area restaurants got noticeably better.

mdocherty 6y ago

That's interesting, I saw that first hand in January staying the night in twin falls-idaho. It must be doing really well. Seattle where I live, not so much. Is this something you have read about before? Or just an observation?

Izkata 6y ago
I've read variations on it a few times. The idea is that older people who get laid off in a recession still need to get a paycheck, are willing to work for less to get something, and so end up beating out the younger people who'd normally be in these jobs just entering the workforce / doing it part-time.

true_religion 6y ago

I can give you an annectdote. Arlington, VA is the richest county in the state. Every fast food place will feature an immigrant staff which is hard working and punctual. Prince Williams County is rural, think forests and trailer parks, but the fast food joints are all staffed by bored teenagers and high college students. Checking who is the lowest on the income totem pole just seems to show if the economic situation for all adults is stable or not. Now it could be unstable due to a bad economy leading to older adults getting fired from better jobs. But it could also be due to other reasons like immigrants moving to a new area; or retirees becoming bored with their empty nests.

TheCoelacanth 6y ago
In places with a large immigrant population, you can replace it with English-speaking ability. Fluent: economy is fucked. Poor: economy is doing well.

bluefirebrand 6y ago

Where I live, fast food places are almost all fully staffed by ESL adults. I can't remember the last time I was served at a restaurant by a teen. It's actually kind of weird because I feel like we are creating an immigrant underclass to staff our fast food places, works as janitors, etc. I'm not sure that is the goal of Canada's immigration policies, but it does seem to be one outcome at least.