Reasons for association:
* Education: The West Coast is home to several prestigious universities, including Stanford University, the University of California, Berkeley, and the University of Southern California. As a result, the region has a highly educated workforce.
* Unionized labor: The West Coast has a long history of unionized labor. In fact, the region is home to some of the most powerful unions in the country, including the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), the United Auto Workers (UAW), and the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU).
* High land costs: The West Coast is one of the most expensive regions in the United States to buy land. This is due to a number of factors, including the high demand for housing, the limited supply of land, and the region's relatively high cost of living.