As someone who grew up in Phoenix, went to school in Tucson, and now resides here in San Diego, I could not agree more with EconProf. If and when I decide to open my own business, it will not be in California due to all the onerous government agencies, taxes, and union work rules I would have to abide by.
As much as I would love to spend my entire career here it just isn’t feasible. While I’d like to cash in on the current real estate bust by acquiring a small condo I could later use as a rental unit, I’m finding better opportunities in the stock market. Two or three years from now when I leave to go get an MBA (nothing against the local programs, I just think I can get into more prestigious programs elsewhere) I will not want to be holding on to an illiquid asset in a bankrupt state with demographic trends working against my favor.
That being said, San Diego isn’t a bad place to be when you’re 25 like I am now.
