Assorted Links Friday

Did cars manufacture the middle class?

The war for workers: Employee shortages are sparking increasingly aggressive efforts by regions and employers to lure talented people.

From life in prison to small business owner: A special prison program in Florida offers prisoners serving life a rare chance at freedom.

Lessons for communities striving to attract remote workers:

• Communities should acknowledge that incentives are unlikely to be the only reason for an individual’s relocation decision
• Incentives are most effective when they are part of holistic economic development strategies
• Incentives tend to resonate with people who have some connection to or experience in your community already
• Relocating remote workers are seeking to make meaningful connections within their new communities

For a company that's been used to growing at 20%, 30% or even 40% over the last few years, this week was a shock: Amazon's e-commerce sales dropped by 3% and the company reported its first loss for 7 years.