From Forbes
Enrico Moretti’s The New Geography of Jobs makes the essential case in support of individual mobility, and for doing so is easily the most important read of 2012. The Cal-Berkeley economic professor’s book is extremely necessary for politicians and commentators alike, and it is despite some conclusions from the author that make very little sense. But before addressing some of the book’s wrongs, it’s worthwhile to address just why it’s so worthwhile.
First up is the worship within the political and economic classes of manufacturing jobs. In a book that artfully slays myriad myths that cloud the economic debate, Moretti makes the very important point that to “remain prosperous, a society needs to keep climbing the innovation ladder.”
Amen.
In clear and convincing prose, Moretti takes on the myths of protectionism, subsidy and the resulting rent seeking as destructive forces. As I said yesterday, this book evokes The Triumph of the City and the Race between Education and Technology and confronts Coming Apart. I found this an engaging and quick read and a nice extension of our ASET discussions of the three books above. I hope we consider this book for a future book club.
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