I thought of Luttwak’s article when I saw one of the more exciting stories recently for car and innovation enthusiasts: the launch last week of Tesla’s Model 3, the most affordable car yet in Elon Musk’s electric car lineup. The car, which has head-snapping acceleration and long range, starts at $35,000, but even with the most modest options will cost more than $50,000. The car already has a months-long waiting list, as Tesla continues to expand its niche as a company that is revolutionizing the automobile industry. Or so the story goes. And the story is true, but only in a very small percentage of the United States. According to a 2017 Bankrate survey of new car affordability, there is only one city in America where the average income is high enough to afford the new Tesla’s minimum list price: Washington, D.C. Under Bankrate’s calculations, which factor in average income, insurance costs, new car loan duration and interest rates, the average income of a person living in Washington, D.C., can afford to part with $37,223.41 for a car. The average income in the next city on the list, San Francisco, only affords a car price of $32,286.00, which buys a loaded Honda, but not even a stripped-down Tesla. Obviously, many people in San Francisco have incomes well above the average, and the Bay Area in general is prime sales territory for Tesla. But the statistics are interesting nonetheless. If you live in Detroit, the Motor City, and have its average income, you can afford a car that costs $13,912.50, which wouldn’t even cover any of the option packages on the new Tesla.