Indeed. If companies go remote, this will depress salaries and makes those living in expensive areas less competitive and either force them to accept a lower st

Indeed. If companies go remote, this will depress salaries and makes those living in expensive areas less competitive and either force them to accept a lower standard of living or force them to move to less expensive areas. This might be nice a way to diffuse income and liberate people from having to live in those areas if they don't want to, but for those who do, it won't be great. And this would be true even if US companies were required to hire within the country first. The other possibility is that if remote work is allowed, but working on prem is preferred, then workers who agree to work on prem will be able to out compete the remote workers for positions anyway which means little practical improvement for those wanting to work remotely.