Would young people still want to move abroad today?
in Economy ·
Greetings, everyone.
It’s been interesting following the commentary on this thread. Given that we have voices from both those living abroad and those staying here in the States—with many arguing that moving away is the only way to go—I decided to weigh in based on my own experience.
To give you some context: I spend five days a week abroad and spend my weekends back home in the US. I often find myself discussing the reality of life overseas with my friends here, though they haven't actually tried it themselves. I'm talking about truly living there—not just going for a shopping trip or a ski vacation.
Young people here still view the "West" through a romanticized lens—largely because they see new trends and product varieties being imported from highly developed markets at an increasing pace. This creates an illusion that those countries are infinitely wealthier and more functional. That perception is a natural reaction to the frustration felt when things don't work properly domestically. People tend to see what they want to see, constructing logical-sounding arguments to support their belief that life is undoubtedly better elsewhere. They base these conclusions on broad metrics and a tendency toward generalization.
A lot of their assumptions are correct; the foreign market is incomparably larger, offering a wider array of jobs across numerous sectors. Salaries are also significantly higher than what we see in the US.
However, they miss the bigger picture. As I mentioned, people see what they want to see, ignoring the fact that the cost of living is substantially higher. They also fail to realize how difficult it is for a foreigner to break through; it takes significant time to integrate, build a social circle, and truly belong. Often, this takes years, and during that initial period, a person's quality of life may be significantly lower than what they were accustomed to back home. Making more money doesn't automatically equate to a better life—money isn't everything. You have to consider free time, the absence of lifelong friends, and the loss of the comforts our people are used to.
The reality is that life in the US isn't all bad. As someone previously noted, a young, capable individual earning around $1,000 a month can often enjoy a much higher quality of life here in Beautiful Our country than someone earning double or triple that amount somewhere else in Europe.
There is another factor for those with an entrepreneurial spirit: while the market abroad is massive, the competition is proportionally much fiercer. Markets are saturated with endless products and services. It feels as if everything was invented decades ago, leaving very little room for innovation. Consequently, to start something in the West, you need a massive amount of capital just to remain competitive and maintain quality.
On the other hand, there is still far more maneuvering room here for someone who wants to take a solid idea from abroad, adapt it to the American market, and inject their own creative touch.
Ultimately, if someone is determined to achieve something by moving abroad, they likely will. For such an individual, it can be an invaluable experience. No matter how much one listens to the opinions of others, the only way to truly know is to experience it firsthand.
Living abroad teaches you how businesses are organized and how markets function, but that expertise can certainly be applied back home later. The point is that under capitalism, things work similarly whether you are in the US or elsewhere; a person must learn to provide for themselves. The myth that the government takes better care of you abroad usually stems from a lack of understanding from those who haven't tried it. In robust economic markets, everything is driven by the pursuit of profit. If you aren't careful, you can easily be left behind by cheaper labor or a more competitive product.
Gary Cox72
It’s been interesting following the commentary on this thread. Given that we have voices from both those living abroad and those staying here in the States—with many arguing that moving away is the only way to go—I decided to weigh in based on my own experience.
To give you some context: I spend five days a week abroad and spend my weekends back home in the US. I often find myself discussing the reality of life overseas with my friends here, though they haven't actually tried it themselves. I'm talking about truly living there—not just going for a shopping trip or a ski vacation.
Young people here still view the "West" through a romanticized lens—largely because they see new trends and product varieties being imported from highly developed markets at an increasing pace. This creates an illusion that those countries are infinitely wealthier and more functional. That perception is a natural reaction to the frustration felt when things don't work properly domestically. People tend to see what they want to see, constructing logical-sounding arguments to support their belief that life is undoubtedly better elsewhere. They base these conclusions on broad metrics and a tendency toward generalization.
A lot of their assumptions are correct; the foreign market is incomparably larger, offering a wider array of jobs across numerous sectors. Salaries are also significantly higher than what we see in the US.
However, they miss the bigger picture. As I mentioned, people see what they want to see, ignoring the fact that the cost of living is substantially higher. They also fail to realize how difficult it is for a foreigner to break through; it takes significant time to integrate, build a social circle, and truly belong. Often, this takes years, and during that initial period, a person's quality of life may be significantly lower than what they were accustomed to back home. Making more money doesn't automatically equate to a better life—money isn't everything. You have to consider free time, the absence of lifelong friends, and the loss of the comforts our people are used to.
The reality is that life in the US isn't all bad. As someone previously noted, a young, capable individual earning around $1,000 a month can often enjoy a much higher quality of life here in Beautiful Our country than someone earning double or triple that amount somewhere else in Europe.
There is another factor for those with an entrepreneurial spirit: while the market abroad is massive, the competition is proportionally much fiercer. Markets are saturated with endless products and services. It feels as if everything was invented decades ago, leaving very little room for innovation. Consequently, to start something in the West, you need a massive amount of capital just to remain competitive and maintain quality.
On the other hand, there is still far more maneuvering room here for someone who wants to take a solid idea from abroad, adapt it to the American market, and inject their own creative touch.
Ultimately, if someone is determined to achieve something by moving abroad, they likely will. For such an individual, it can be an invaluable experience. No matter how much one listens to the opinions of others, the only way to truly know is to experience it firsthand.
Living abroad teaches you how businesses are organized and how markets function, but that expertise can certainly be applied back home later. The point is that under capitalism, things work similarly whether you are in the US or elsewhere; a person must learn to provide for themselves. The myth that the government takes better care of you abroad usually stems from a lack of understanding from those who haven't tried it. In robust economic markets, everything is driven by the pursuit of profit. If you aren't careful, you can easily be left behind by cheaper labor or a more competitive product.
Gary Cox72