Re:Tech Sector Feeling Covid-19’s Economic Pain
by tharne on Friday July 31, 2020 @06:10PM
(#24014820)
This isn't true. The costs of some things are going up while others are going down. Transportation is much cheaper, for example, even without taking into account remote work. The cost of cars, gas, and auto insurance is lower than it was 20 or 30 years ago when adjusted for inflation. Education and Healthcare are getting dramatically more expensive. Clothes are much cheaper, and the cost of consumer goods in general is decreasing a lot. Think about how much a microwave cost in 1980's.
Re:Tech Sector Feeling Covid-19’s Economic Pain
by Tehchops on Friday July 31, 2020 @06:37PM
(#24015041)
I'll concede that some durable goods are cheaper adjusted for inflation.
But at the end of the day, what has the most impact on socioeconomic mobility and overall success? It's probably not a cheap microwave.
It's access to good schools, health care, and diet. All of the things that are getting more expensive.
Cheaper gas and clothes also have hidden(less so now) costs in pollution and ethical sourcing concerns.
While I agree you wouldn't need to worry about affording SV-grade housing costs, I feel like these discussions leave out a couple of things:
* The CoL is going up everywhere. Food, medical care etc... None of it is getting cheaper.
* Good houses in good school systems with reasonable access are still expensive in many areas of the country.
* It's kind of ridiculous to see companies pushing the narrative that they can suddenly pay everyone less based on arbitrary geography when the average revenue/profit generated per engineer is often many, many multiples of their total compensation costs.