tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29127973.post2192278334040615721..comments2023-10-27T03:16:03.213-04:00Comments on Burgh Diaspora: How Reason Doomed ClevelandJim Russellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13078184665418828961noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29127973.post-82440265712915702432010-05-30T09:52:48.663-04:002010-05-30T09:52:48.663-04:00Speaking of Boston, a good story about brain drain...Speaking of Boston, a good <a href="http://www.wbur.org/2010/05/27/college-grads" rel="nofollow">story</a> about brain drain there. The comments from the graduates are hilarious. Also, check out Alicia Sasser's research on New England talent migration.Jim Russellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13078184665418828961noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29127973.post-60233076900026994112010-05-29T18:33:31.415-04:002010-05-29T18:33:31.415-04:00Jim, you make a great point about Boston. I went t...Jim, you make a great point about Boston. I went to school in Boston (well, not in Boston, but nearby. No, not Tufts), and I don't ever remember hearing lamentations about how college graduates were leaving the city in droves, even though every year, they were. Now, in Pittsburgh, it seems to be a common complaint, particularly from older folks - about how the city can't support its graduates, about how they all move out of state, etc., even though 90% of CMU undergrads are from outside of PA.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13993378645809514892noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29127973.post-86859255253050783202010-05-28T17:08:52.448-04:002010-05-28T17:08:52.448-04:00Jobs will attract people from beyond the pale. The...Jobs will attract people from beyond the pale. The federal government labs in and around Boulder brought in a lot of talent that otherwise wouldn't have had the first clue about the Front Range of Colorado. Universities and colleges also work in a similar fashion, but attract the wrong demographic cohort (those least likely to stay). The rest can be explained as [social] network migration.Jim Russellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13078184665418828961noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29127973.post-16038661678797390342010-05-28T17:03:21.377-04:002010-05-28T17:03:21.377-04:00So why do people pick one relocation place over an...So why do people pick one relocation place over another?<br /><br />Well, if we're talking about the generic "recent college grads" category, I think the reasons are usually well-understood:<br /><br />* Lively cultural scene<br />* Good jobs prospects<br />* Existing social network<br />* Easy transportation network<br /><br />Note that I did not include:<br />* Municipal tax structure<br />* Housing affordability<br /><br />What am I forgetting? (I guess you could write several tomes on the subject!)<br /><br />--SteveStephen Grosshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08704949337738506028noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29127973.post-57062060080871639462010-05-28T16:58:29.766-04:002010-05-28T16:58:29.766-04:00Yes, you have it right. For example, consider Bost...Yes, you have it right. For example, consider Boston and Pittsburgh. Both deal with talent outmigration. But Boston has much better talent inmigration. What about all those young adults around the country looking for greener grass? Boston is on the map. Pittsburgh isn't.Jim Russellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13078184665418828961noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29127973.post-53612777070942315212010-05-28T16:53:16.028-04:002010-05-28T16:53:16.028-04:00Ok, this makes sense. If I may paraphrase, your po...Ok, this makes sense. If I may paraphrase, your point is this: "Migration is a fact of life. Rather than focusing on why people leave, ask why people move in". Have I got it right?<br /><br />In that case, the psychological challenge that policymakers face is rather steep: They have to imagine why an *outsider* would pick their city over others. That requires imagining and understanding the point of view of outsiders.Stephen Grosshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08704949337738506028noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29127973.post-52819523487984969132010-05-28T16:50:13.119-04:002010-05-28T16:50:13.119-04:00However, my point is that urban policymakers canno...<i>However, my point is that urban policymakers cannot imagine why anyone would ever want to leave their Dear City.</i><br /><br />I think most policymakers overestimate talent outmigration. The fear is that everyone <i>is</i> leaving. There's an irrational attachment to native sons and daughters. I find policymakers to be self-conscious about their Dear City. Everything must be wrong. Downtown isn't cool enough. Graduates don't know enough about opportunities. There aren't enough jobs.<br /><br />But for some young adults, the grass is always greener no matter how much money you pay Next Generation Consulting or Reason.Jim Russellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13078184665418828961noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29127973.post-1389931613429886952010-05-28T15:37:51.828-04:002010-05-28T15:37:51.828-04:00I have to agree that the four part Reason piece on...I have to agree that the four part Reason piece on Cleveland was just not a serious effort at building a real debate and believe me, I think they have points to make. <br /><br />If Drew and Reason want to open up a study center in Cleveland and spend lots of time and effort there, it would go a long way.John Morrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11099009144603936211noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29127973.post-84558976332372215402010-05-28T14:08:19.115-04:002010-05-28T14:08:19.115-04:00Well, Republicans are nothing if not ideological t...Well, Republicans are nothing if not ideological thinkers. They have reached their conclusion ("Smaller government! Lower taxes!") and they fashion their policy arguments to support that conclusion regardless of the policy subject of interest.<br /><br />However, my point is that urban policymakers cannot imagine why anyone would ever want to leave their Dear City. As a result, they can't objectively evaluate policies that claim to affect in- and out-migration.Stephen Grosshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08704949337738506028noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29127973.post-83187885357991163002010-05-28T14:00:08.436-04:002010-05-28T14:00:08.436-04:00Actually, the libertarian narrative argues that bi...Actually, the libertarian narrative argues that big government and too much taxation pushes out talent. The biggest brain drain boondoggles tend to come from Republicans.Jim Russellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13078184665418828961noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29127973.post-5644402183643062012010-05-28T13:56:09.000-04:002010-05-28T13:56:09.000-04:00It occurs to me: maybe policymakers jump on board ...It occurs to me: maybe policymakers jump on board with pseudo-science brain drain narrative because they *personally* cannot understand why someone would emigrate from their region. That is, their inability to understand emigrants' motives makes them easy prey for over-simplistic brain drain policies.Stephen Grosshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08704949337738506028noreply@blogger.com