The "Who, What, When and Where" of San Diego

The region's population and employment growth rates are correlated to national economic cycles and sensitive to military spending. A large part of our manufacturing base since World War II has relied on Department of Defense expenditures. As defense expenditures increased during the Korean and Vietnam Wars, our employment base increased and more people moved into the region. At the end of the war, defense spending decreased leading to fewer job opportunities and a reduction in the rate of population growth. The military buildup of the mid-1980s again brought increased employment opportunities to the region, and population growth due to net migration also increased. By 1990, it was clear that the military spending would no longer sustain the levels they did in the mid-1980s. In the past few years employment in defense-related industries decreased dramatically as companies dependent on military expenditures began to downsize and restructure locally.

I can effect this deomographic by getting a job and being an active home buyer and worker in the community of San Diego in the future.

Tuesday, October 7, 2008