re: #174 iossarian

Lots of factors:

1) Professionalization of casual labor, as noted above (“guys with snowblowers and pickup trucks”)

2) Increased time demands on K-12 age kids (homework, activities)

3) Reduction in adult availability to find and supervise kids doing such work:

3a) face it, if you hire a 12-year old to mow your lawn, you’re going to have to go out and get the bits he didn’t get to

3b) a lot of hiring kids in this way comes from knowing your neighbors (and their kids)

etc. etc.

3a(i) Homeowner liability. Twelve-year olds have no business running a (crappy) lawnmower.