Bobby Kearns

4/21/2011

Econ 201

Professor Jones

2:15-4:25

Microeconomics and Pierce County Growth

The economic growth facing the Pierce County area today has had enormous

impacts both good and bad. While the negative economic growth of Pierce County

closely resembles the thinking of the Polynesian society on Easter Island, the good

impacts show the possible economic productivity of the warehouse industry. In this

growth the negative impacts outweigh the positive impacts on Pierce County, for

example the warehouse to road ratio in the city of Fife, or the correlation between the

industrialization of farmlands and the increase in urban flooding. Over the past decade

Pierce County has taken many steps towards productivity, with every step forward it

appears there are always at least two steps going backwards.

The thinking that goes on in the Pierce County growth closely resembles that of

the Polynesian Society of Easter Island in the way each town wanted to be bigger and

better than the next town. Even though Pierce County’s thoughts resembles those of the

Easter Island society, hopefully the outcomes will not, as Pierce County will not run itself

into the ground by using up all of their resources due to all the economic productivity the

warehouse industry has brought. This is what separates the growth in Pierce County and

that of the Easter Island community, as Pierce County are using their resources in a way
that benefits them economically instead of just building “for the hell of it” like the chiefs

of Easter Island.

The warehouse to road ratio has become a huge problem in the Pierce County

area, especially in the city of Fife. As a resident of Fife for 5 years the ratio has

significantly increased to the point that road conditions are affected, traffic is impacted,

and industry has changed from family to business. With every farm taken down there has

always been a new warehouse to pop up, and with every warehouse popping up there has

never been a road to accompany it. The primary example of this would be 70th avenue

between 20th and Valley avenue, in that stretch there are at least ten warehouses that have

an average of eight 18 wheelers come in and out each day. On average it can take two to

three cycles to get through a light at these intersections due to the increase in traffic from

these warehouses. Not only do these warehouses affect traffic, the road conditions are

greatly affected by the increase traffic of these heavy vehicles on city roads. These city

roads were not designed for this repeated exposure to this traffic abuse.

Another problem facing the economic growth of Pierce County is the correlation

between the industrialization of farmlands and urban flooding. With the removal of

natural resources and replacing farm fields with concrete impacts the water run off and

increases the risk of flooding in urban areas. Again Fife is another perfect example for

this argument. As they have removed most if not all of the farmlands and in their place

concrete parking lots for the multitude of warehouses. As it is known concrete is not the

most absorbent substance, it makes one question where the water is supposed to go?

Even though most warehouses have to put retention ponds to accommodate the runoff its
still has the potential to increase flooding to urban areas. From being a resident of Fife I

have been a first hand witness to the impact this change has had on flooding.

With all the warehouse production that Pierce County has experienced over the

years there is definitely been an economic change in city of Fife itself, which is a part of

Pierce County. This economic change has pros and cons impact both businesses and

residents of the city. As with all economic growth there is always room for

improvement; one way would be to improve the roads before the development takes

place. This would benefit both businesses and residents and be economic turn for the

good instead of the bad.