5 ms·

Family/friends. Real-life social network/support often outweighs the gains of moving somewhere cheaper.

pishpash 8y ago
Precisely, the network effect is real.
mjevans 8y ago
Having a support network of any kind is something very difficult to weigh economically; but it is invaluable at the same time.
- antisthenes 8y ago
  If you've ever helped your friends move or have had them help you, you can weigh the economic benefit very easily. Not only does it strengthen your friendship, but it takes the profit margin of a moving company out of the equation - that's the economic gain your group gains (even after you buy your friends beer and lunches - you should still be in the plus)
x2f10 8y ago
Bingo. The potential support amplifies for those that have (or are planning to have) children.
walrus01 8y ago
Because places where you can buy a house for $75,000 have jobs that pay poorly. I can't afford a 3BD detached home in the city limits of Vancouver, but I sure could move to rural New Brunswick. If I wanted to be bored to death and suffer through the winters.
- candiodari 8y ago
  Exactly ... it's a trap, moving somewhere cheaper for reasons of saving money.
dlwdlw 8y ago
Similarly, people don't move to countries in southeast asia and live like kings. When asking "Why people don't just move", should ask the self "Would I move to southeast asia?"
- notadoc 8y ago
  Moving to a cheap tropical paradise sounds pretty nice, really. But for anyone who has looked into it, you learn the visa situation is a nuisance. They don't want foreigners longer than a vacation.
RandomInteger4 8y ago
Indeed. Many people fail to realize or acknowledge just how valuable those things are until they lose access to them.
jiveturkey 8y ago
yeah. an article that makes you say "duh" i guess i should have known that.
notadoc 8y ago
How would that explain why probably upwards of 95% of people moving to the west coast (and trendy cities in general) have no family there, and likely no meaningful friend group or social networks there either? The vast majority of people I talk to piling out west have no connections here whatsoever.
- drivingmenuts 8y ago
  How many of them had strong connections and opportunities back home? How old are they? I could move to rural Texas and live like ... well, better, maybe ... but there's no opportunity there, I'd make about a quarter of what I do now, if I could even find a job I wasn't overqualified for and not know anyone. If I moved to the West Coast, I could up my pay, maybe, but that's about it. I'd still not know anyone. All that stuff plays a part the older you get.

Precisely, the network effect is real.

Having a support network of any kind is something very difficult to weigh economically; but it is invaluable at the same time.

antisthenes 8y ago
If you've ever helped your friends move or have had them help you, you can weigh the economic benefit very easily. Not only does it strengthen your friendship, but it takes the profit margin of a moving company out of the equation - that's the economic gain your group gains (even after you buy your friends beer and lunches - you should still be in the plus)

x2f10 8y ago

Bingo. The potential support amplifies for those that have (or are planning to have) children.

walrus01 8y ago

Because places where you can buy a house for $75,000 have jobs that pay poorly. I can't afford a 3BD detached home in the city limits of Vancouver, but I sure could move to rural New Brunswick. If I wanted to be bored to death and suffer through the winters.

candiodari 8y ago
Exactly ... it's a trap, moving somewhere cheaper for reasons of saving money.

dlwdlw 8y ago

Similarly, people don't move to countries in southeast asia and live like kings. When asking "Why people don't just move", should ask the self "Would I move to southeast asia?"

notadoc 8y ago
Moving to a cheap tropical paradise sounds pretty nice, really. But for anyone who has looked into it, you learn the visa situation is a nuisance. They don't want foreigners longer than a vacation.

RandomInteger4 8y ago

Indeed. Many people fail to realize or acknowledge just how valuable those things are until they lose access to them.

jiveturkey 8y ago

yeah. an article that makes you say "duh" i guess i should have known that.

notadoc 8y ago

How would that explain why probably upwards of 95% of people moving to the west coast (and trendy cities in general) have no family there, and likely no meaningful friend group or social networks there either? The vast majority of people I talk to piling out west have no connections here whatsoever.

drivingmenuts 8y ago
How many of them had strong connections and opportunities back home? How old are they? I could move to rural Texas and live like ... well, better, maybe ... but there's no opportunity there, I'd make about a quarter of what I do now, if I could even find a job I wasn't overqualified for and not know anyone. If I moved to the West Coast, I could up my pay, maybe, but that's about it. I'd still not know anyone. All that stuff plays a part the older you get.