A recent series of articles in the CT Insider raised the issue of wealthy towns’ outperformance in youth sports. Similar articles routinely discuss the outperformance of the same towns in nearly every dimension. The CT Insider articles note that success in youth sports is highly affected by the resources available to the children of the town. The high price of travel teams, the availability of parent coaches, and the expenditure of the town on athletic programs for kids are cited as reasons for the outperformance of wealthy towns.
The general observation that rich people have resources to do things that people with less money cannot afford is unquestionable. New Canaan residents have, on average, three times the income of the residents of Bridgeport. It should not be surprising that New Canaan residents spend more on travel teams, coaching, gym memberships, and other expensive activities that help their children become good at sports. They also spend more on housing, security, insurance, tutors, schools, and camps.
The CT Insider articles propose several solutions to the problem of inequity. Without reading the articles, you can guess the solutions. They are the same solutions proposed to the problems of inequity in education, housing, and employment: redistribute wealth and prevent people from freely associating.
People who live in New Canaan chose to live there when they could easily have chosen to live in Bridgeport. People choose their places of residence based on their priorities and the benefits they perceive, such as New Canaan’s residents choosing a place that offers excellent schools, security, and a sense of community. It’s a testament to the town’s commitment to providing the best for its residents. Towns with bad sports, poor schools, high crime, and dirty streets are not only plentiful, they are less expensive than New Canaan. The fact that families choose to spend their time, energy, and money to get the benefits of living in a town that shares their priorities is not a bug in the economic system. It is a key feature of the system.
Variations in sports outcomes or differences in home prices across towns can be seen as reflections of unique economic circumstances and also the choices made by a community to prioritize. While New Canaan’s properties might be priced much higher than the average Connecticut home, this highlights the high value people place on the amenities and lifestyle the town offers. The beauty of our system is that it allows for diversity, choices, and community building, where individuals with similar priorities can come together and create thriving families and neighborhoods.
