Many Americans, myself included, have had to make a tough decision to remain in their economically-challenged hometowns or move to new locations for better job and career options.  Uninformed observers often think:  “just pick up and go, it’s no big deal.”  Yet, the reality is much tougher.  Deciding whether to stay or to go is a big and often life-changing decision.

We have lots of stories and reports on what happens when people do “pick up and go.”  Government data regularly track migration patterns, and endless books, movies, and shows talk about folks moving to the big city.  But, what about those how opt to stay?  That’s the focus of a fascinating new book that I can highly recommend:  Who We Are is Where We Are:  Making Home in the American Rust Belt by Amanda McMillan Lequieu. 

McMillian Lequieu is “Rust Belt” transplant herself, so she brings a thoughtful perspective to her ethnographic studies of residents in two communities:  Southside Chicago (a former steel area) and Iron County, WI, a former center for iron mining. This is a nuanced portrait that emphasizes how our definitions of home affect our decisions to stay or go.  If you’re looking to understand the many benefits and challenges facing those who opt to stay, this is a good place to start.

Over the past few years, I’ve worked on a number of projects in coastal areas, including extensive work in Louisiana. If you talk to Louisianans or Californians affected by fires, or anyone living in coastal areas, you quickly hear about the skyrocketing costs of property insurance.  A new Wharton School study looks at the scale of these increases.  Between 2020 and 2023, the researchers estimate that household property insurance costs rose around 37%, adding about $500 to the average annual bill. These costs increased even faster in climate change affected areas like Florida (up 90%) and Texas (up 50%).

These big increases are largely attributed to higher reinsurance costs, but this is surely not a one-time price jump. While the article is not focused on economic development impacts, rising insurance costs do need to become a part of each community’s development debates.  If costs continue to rise, many now-booming areas may see an outflow of residents or face challenges in attracting and retaining new talent.  At the same time, rising insurance costs create major state budget pressures as many states manage insurers of last resort, such as the Florida Insurance Guaranty Association.  At present, the problems seem manageable.   However, the long-term implications could be threatening.  Keep this one on your radar!!