If the economy isn’t the reason Boston Area Technology Support and Boston IT Consulting businesses aren’t staying local, what is?
Not too long ago Mark Zuckerberg, Facebook’s founder, commented that he could have stayed in Boston to build the company rather than move to Silicon Valley. This has those in the commercial real estate world asking “well why didn’t you?”. A recent panel hosted by Suffolk University and the Greater Boston Real Estate Board discussed why bright young people lit off to other locations after earning their degrees in the Boston are?
Edward Glaeser, a Harvard University economist who specializes in urban issues, summarized remarks he recently heard while serving on a committee that explored ways Boston could do better at retaining talent.
Young people electing to leave Boston said, in essence: “I’m paying New York prices, but I’m not getting New York fun.” One panelist cited the example of the MBTA’s comparatively early closing time as a fun-killing problem.
Glaeser also said the quality of urban public education hinders talent-retention in cities. He also said, “we have accreted centuries of regulations (that hinder growth). “A recession’s a great time to take a hacksaw to some of those things.”
Executive Director Peter Meade, of the Boston Redevelopment Authority , also agreed that public education is a factor in efforts “to attract and retain young people.” According to Meade said he often asks, “How do we become a more inviting place to live, work, educate and stay?” Good question, have you got any answers?
If you would like to read the entire Boston Business Journal article, click here.
