Uploaded on 2016-09-01 by Jason Beffa

The most important stocks & flows in Seattle: 1. People 1a. Stock Only Landscape Elements 2. Stock & Flow Landscape Elements (Specifically Trees/Wood/Paper Products) 3. Information (Specifically Software Development & Intellectual Property) 1. There has been a huge influx of people moving to Seattle in recent years, which has caused a housing bubble, a subsequent bust, and now another boom in new development around the area. This flow of people into the city has forced out a stock of native residents who can no longer afford the area, but those who can afford it usually stay for a long period of time, replenishing and actually increasing the stock. 1a. This addendum is to address one of the reasons why so many people have moved to Seattle over the years aside from work assignments, and that is the natural resources related to quality of life. Mountains, snow, our Pacific Ocean coastline, forests, national parks, wine country and the fact that we are the only state that is home to all five major weather climates in the USA. These outdoor attractions are stocks that do not flow, though they do contribute greatly to the ever-changing landscape of the city and state. 2. Washington State has long been a timber state, with a history of exporting one of our greatest natural resources, trees. But in recent years, exporting and housing development has threatened the stock & flow balance, which needs to be protected against over forestry and hyper residential development without replanting of precious trees. In some cases however, the development of formerly disused or dangerous areas has been beneficial to the growth of the city, and helped to create new residential areas or green spaces that will benefit all residents. 3. One of the most influential stocks and flows in and out of the Seattle area in the last 25 years has been the increase in technology firms developing technology and software information systems, as well as the majority of their intellectual property products. Microsoft and McCaw Cellular started the tech boom here in the early 1990’s, and has since been followed by the likes of Amazon, Vulcan, Google, Expedia, and Valve Games. These companies recruit people from this region and all around the world to develop information into marketable products and services that have become as globally ubiquitous as they are seemingly right next door via the internet.