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> I’m beginning to suspect that centralization consolidation of corporate structures are more of a causative factor for why land in cities is very expensive. T
by philipallstar 2mo ago
> I’m beginning to suspect that centralization consolidation of corporate structures are more of a causative factor for why land in cities is very expensive.
The reason is that there are far more people coming in than there is room to keep up with demand, so dwellings are chopped up into smaller dwellings and rented out, and house prices rocket. Cities are only so big, and putting endless additional people in them can be great if you own property, but terrible if you don't.
- arrosenberg 2mo agoThat’s the proximate cause, but OP has correctly identified that finance capitalism, outsourcing industry, and corporate consolidation are the forces that have driven people out of small towns and into cities looking for economic opportunity.
- philipallstar 2mo agoI doubt corporate consolidation has driven people out of small towns. Outsourcing, yes, but that's globalisation rather than outsourcing per se. Finance capitalism - any sort of finance, whether capitalism or raised through taxes - can pull people somewhere. Washington DC would be a ghost town without the tax dollars to draw people to it. Those three are not the forces, and they aren't necessarily the most significant ones either.
- arrosenberg 2mo agoTwo businesses merge, now one bigger enterprise has two plants, which they consolidate into one. Maybe they outsource instead (or “globalize” if you prefer, though I’m not clear on your distinction). Now one or two towns that previously had a business providing jobs don’t. Younger people leave since there is no opportunity there. Now repeat this for decades.