# How Tech's Growth Left the Midwest Behind: The Ripple Effect on Jobs, Education, and Politics

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/geeks-geezers-and-googlization-show-6197/how-tech-s-growth-left-the-midwest-behind-the-ripple-effect-on-jobs-education-and-politics
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/geeks-geezers-and-googlization-show-6197/how-tech-s-growth-left-the-midwest-behind-the-ripple-effect-on-jobs-education-and-politics.md
Podcast: [Geeks, Geezers, and Googlization Show](https://stenobird.com/podcast/geeks-geezers-and-googlization-show-6197)
Published: 2024-08-25T09:05:00+00:00
Episode link: https://geeksgeezersandgooglization.com/how-techs-growth-left-the-midwest-behind-the-ripple-effect-on-jobs-education-and-politics
Audio file: https://pdcn.co/e/traffic.libsyn.com/secure/gggcast/Main-St-Wall-St-08212024-Gad_Levanon-2.mp3?dest-id=382298
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JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/geeks-geezers-and-googlization-show-6197/episodes/how-tech-s-growth-left-the-midwest-behind-the-ripple-effect-on-jobs-education-and-politics
Duration seconds: 3373

## Resource

While tech is the fastest-growing sector in the US and the world, it mostly skipped the Midwest. But the shift didn't just impact jobs but educational attainment and politics too. This episode explores the fascinating junction of Main Street and Wall Street where we bring together insights from Gad Levanon, Chief Economist at Burning Glass Institute , along with our esteemed co-hosts, Ira S Wolfe, Mat Van Alystyne, and John Aidan Byrne. We delve into the perplexing political realignment in the Midwest, the likelihood of a recession, the influence of AI on traditional jobs, concerns about public debt, and even the future of democracy. Episode Highlights: The Midwestern Struggle: The decline in manufacturing has hit the Midwest hardest, undercutting economic stability and leading to a political shift towards the Republican Party. Gad's research highlights a dramatic drop in educational attainment, population, and economic development in the region. This decline has contributed to the shifting voter preferences we see today. It's a complex story with no straightforward solution, but localized efforts and proactive leadership might offer glimmers of hope. Recession Talks: Premature or Impending? Gad maintains a cautiously optimistic outlook despite fears of an impending recession. While economic indicators show some negative trends, he believes that a recession requires a clear shock, which he hasn't seen yet. Mat Van Alystne adds that recessions often come as surprises, challenging us to stay prepared and vigilant. Tech and the Workforce: Winners and Losers Our discussion brought light to the tectonic shifts in the tech industry. AI and automation are transforming job landscapes, creating winners (owners, executives) and losers (rank-and-file programmers). These changes r…

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