Here's a timely story on just this topic
Kentucky is giving this coal company tax breaks worth millions to keep 250 jobsThe problem for many coal mining areas is that they aren't exactly along the pathways of commerce. They're frequently in isolated, difficult to navigate terrain. Back in the olden days mining towns were abandoned all the time. Really, if the mine runs out it hard to find other viable means of employing the people there. So, do you spend money on helping the people to transition out to some other place or do you spend it on propping up an uneconomic asset? Of course some would prefer neither, just leave them to the mercy of the free market. From an economic stand point it would seem more sensible to train them for economically viable jobs even if it means relocation. But the locals almost always prefer the status quo and vote for those who promise it even if they can't deliver it.
