Cleveland Return Migration

You can go home again. This Thursday, over 35 million Americans will do exactly that. The crowded airports and jammed highways demonstrate the power of the link between two places. Co-location is normal and good for the economy.

Thanksgiving is an appropriate time to celebrate return migration. The long homecoming weekend is indicative of much more than US geographic mobility. Fittingly, Global Cleveland has seized the moment:

Potential "boomerangs'' are the target of a talent attraction effort under the aegis of the Cleveland Leadership Center. This Saturday, the group is sponsoring a networking event aimed at college students and recent graduates at the Corner Alley downtown -- intersection of East 4th Street and Euclid Avenue -- from 3 to 5 p.m. Those who attend can meet with corporate recruiters and civic leaders to learn more about opportunities in Cleveland -- and they'll be only a couple of blocks away from the Christmas lighting celebration on Public Square. If that sounds like something for you -- or for your children who'll be home for the holiday -- go to cleveleads.org for more information or to buy tickets.

Emphasis added. Networking return migrants (and encouraging more return migration) is the hot new trend in talent economics. If you are still pouring money into sticky places, then you have missed the boat. You are at least a decade behind the curve. I recommend selling your Richard Florida library at the next flea market and using the proceeds to buy "The Great Brain Race" by Ben Wildavsky. People develop, not places.