For Robert Moses's ability to hire large numbers of people during the Great Depression, the availability of unemployed workers mattered more than the low wages he could pay them.

“he needed architects for something. I don't remember what it is. It's in The Power Broker. And they lined up on Fifth Avenue, thousands of out-of-work architects, you know, uh, that he could hire for very low wage, you know, very low wages.”

“But more than the wages, they were available, you know, because they didn't have anything to do. He was able to hire so many people and hire and fire them in a ruthless way.”