GlennRenn has a lengthy sausage on how employers are utilizing telecommucting capabilities to allow workers to stay employed in the U.S., essentially by having them retain big-city salaries while living in the Podunks and Peorias.
I think he's right in seeing this as a win-win from an economic standpoint, although it would be nice to see Bangalore, too.
A point not made, since it's not yet realistic, is that this sort of geographic diversification is also a helpful defense against some terror threats. Currently, something like nineteen gazillion folks jam themselves into Stuyvesantville every day, because that's where the action is. If by virtue of virtuality, this action becomes steadily less concentrated in one small island, then even if the evildoers get ahold of a dirty bomb, the potential negative impact on the economy is minimized.
Not a pleasant thought, but there, on the periphery regardless. Have a lovely day.
- Moishe Potemkin
Posted by MoisheP at August 28, 2005 09:31 PM | TrackBack