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3. The vast majority of the people living in New York City are in absolutely dire circumstances but somehow won't leave to literally any other city in the US wh

3. The vast majority of the people living in New York City are in absolutely dire circumstances but somehow won't leave to literally any other city in the US where they would immediately earn more relative to the cost of living. To this last point, moving has costs. At minimum transport costs (fuel, bus ticket, whatever). If they have some furniture worth taking, they need a U-Haul. People might not have the small amount of cash/credit required to move across the country. Staying in poverty in NYC might be their only option.

tristor 4y ago
While you're correct, and I do account for this in my statement, most studies on the topic found that people refuse to move not due to financial reasons but due to social support systems, primarily family or cultural connections. Something that's not entirely unique, but relatively uncommon in the US, is large cultural and ethnic enclaves in cities, New York City happens to be home to largest number of these, and therefore many people grow up in New York City ingrained into a culture that ties into their ethnicity, and the city itself, in a way which they would not find anywhere else in the US if they moved. Leaving this and family behind to leave the city is considered untenable by many people, especially in cultures that emphasize family connections and multi-generational households as the norm. These emotional draws are much more meaningful and significant causes for why people don't move than whether or not they can afford the U-Haul one time.
- selimthegrim 4y ago
  New Orleans also has this
InitialLastName 4y ago
Not just that, but in a world where (particularly for poor and immigrant communities) employment is frequently informal and based on social and family networks ("The restaurant my cousin works at is hiring" or "My brother's construction gig needs some extra hands on Friday"), moving to another city means giving up a huge portion of your social capital and possibly all of your earning potential, as well as your (similarly informal) safety net.

tristor 4y ago

While you're correct, and I do account for this in my statement, most studies on the topic found that people refuse to move not due to financial reasons but due to social support systems, primarily family or cultural connections. Something that's not entirely unique, but relatively uncommon in the US, is large cultural and ethnic enclaves in cities, New York City happens to be home to largest number of these, and therefore many people grow up in New York City ingrained into a culture that ties into their ethnicity, and the city itself, in a way which they would not find anywhere else in the US if they moved. Leaving this and family behind to leave the city is considered untenable by many people, especially in cultures that emphasize family connections and multi-generational households as the norm. These emotional draws are much more meaningful and significant causes for why people don't move than whether or not they can afford the U-Haul one time.

selimthegrim 4y ago
New Orleans also has this

InitialLastName 4y ago

Not just that, but in a world where (particularly for poor and immigrant communities) employment is frequently informal and based on social and family networks ("The restaurant my cousin works at is hiring" or "My brother's construction gig needs some extra hands on Friday"), moving to another city means giving up a huge portion of your social capital and possibly all of your earning potential, as well as your (similarly informal) safety net.