To get ahead, Americans must move

I found this report fascinating. The basic point is that Americans who are struggling to make ends meet can most help themselves by moving to where the jobs are. As previously noted, this is exactly what many New Mexicans are doing, but the idea of moving rather than staying in one place could also be applied to government benefits like unemployment and food stamps which tend to make the poor and unemployed more comfortable and thus less likely to move to find work.

Interestingly, but not surprisingly, the federal government’s meddling with the housing market and the powerful incentives it provides for home ownership as opposed to renting are major reasons why Americans are not moving (or working) as much these days as they used to.

Amazing how many of our problems are caused by the unintended consequences of government!