Why the Bay Area Outshines L.A.

"In 1970, the San Francisco Bay and Los Angeles areas ranked, respectively, numbers four and one in per capita income in the United States. In 2009, after both areas grew by more than 50 percent in population, they were, respectively, numbers one and twenty-five."

"L.A.’s and the Bay Area’s divergence depends largely on what Storper referred to as the 'dark matter' of public policy. Lurking behind every data point and every policy are forces like curiosity, relationships, open-ness, diversity, civic self-image, and values. These factors are often disregarded by short-sighted wonks and bureaucrats not because they’re not crucial but because they aren’t easily quantified."

"If an individual, firm, or government doesn’t have the knowledge or the capital to realize their dreams, so be it. But if they fail because they’re not open to the wisdom, energy, diversity, ambition, and creativity of other human beings, well, that’s something else....Los Angeles’ economic failing is not just a business failing or a policy failing. It is a moral failing....What else do you call it when 25.7 percent of residents in the biggest county in the richest state in the richest country in the world live in poverty?"