The sluggish economy is taking its toll on the professional and personal lives of Park citizens.
“The situation is dire,” says Dr. Anneliese Cissa, head of the Livingstone School of Economics and Social Science at the University of West Terrier and author of a new report on the economy entitled, “Seeking Greener Pastures: The Exodus of the Unwilling and Able.”
The report, which analyzed economic and employment data gathered by The Park’s Department of Statistics and Records, paints a gloomy picture of the future unless immediate action is taken.
According to the report, recent statistics show that a record number of Animals have had to leave their homes and families in the past year to seek work outside The Park.
“The Park is simply not generating a sufficient number of jobs for its population,” says Dr. Cissa. “As a consequence, we are losing our best and brightest…the skilled and the most diligent. And Humans are the ones who are benefitting.”
Indeed, figures cited in the report indicate that, out of financial necessity, a great many Animals have been forced to take jobs as “domestic companions” to Humans outside The Park.
“This is tragic on so many levels,” says Cissa. “These are Animals who were trained and educated at institutions in The Park, Animals who were promised a better life than their ancestors had. These are Animals who believed in the Promise of The Park, and who believed that Animals would never have to serve Humans again. They’ve been betrayed by the economy and they are starting to question their commitment to The Park, itself. It is a very challenging situation.”
Dr. Cissa’s report is scheduled to be presented to the Archons’ full assembly on Tuesday.
