How Much Does a Tech Bro Cost?
2nd July 2018
America’s cities all have the same dream these days: to be the next Silicon Valley. To court Big Tech, they have taken to showering some of the world’s most profitable companies with taxpayers’ cash.
On the surface the rationale seems obvious. Manufacturing is so 20th century: ship in the tech bros. Just 12% of engineering jobs are held by women in the US. That number rises to 27% for computer and mathematical jobs, but still if you know someone working in tech, chances are, they’re a man. and soon your rusty old mills will be designer lofts and your dying main street will throb with millennials, craft beer bars and gluten-free bakeries.
But while the mayor may get a photo op with Tim Cook or Elon Musk, do the numbers really add up for taxpayers?