While Southern California features high taxes, drought and earthquakes, plenty of economists continue to live here. Here is the REPEC ranking of the top 100 California economists. You will see some talent on this list. If you search hard, you can find me ranked somewhere between #41 and #43. I count 9 Clark Medalists and/or Nobel Laureates ranked ahead of me. They will be hard to catch.
via greeneconomics.blogspot.com
And good luck.