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As noted this is not really true in most locations, but I still would not feel bad about the person earning $400k. They live in a desirable location. They can m
by R0b0t1 5y ago
As noted this is not really true in most locations, but I still would not feel bad about the person earning $400k. They live in a desirable location. They can move if they wish.
- closeparen 5y agoThey live in a productive location. When they leave it their productivity collapses. I understand it’s emotionally satisfying to see them deprived, but the government also ends up with less revenue when they apply their skills to lower impact projects.
- R0b0t1 5y agoThis is a specious argument. You can't measure expenditures that go solely to retaining the exclusive use of desirable land as productivity. Large engineering firms have offices in various Midwestern states that are just as productive as SV, NY, what have you.
- closeparen 5y agoHigh-wage-high-cost and medium-wage-medium-cost arrangements are on balance pretty similar for the employee. Dramatically higher taxes on the former will push people to the latter. Which, as you note, they can do without even changing employers. There might be some lens through which this is good. Decentralization, or inequality. But tax revenue from this cohort will go down, not up, because there’s so much less income to tax in the first place.