No Mercy / No Malice: Migrant

Migration Decline

Domestic migration in the U.S. has seen a significant decline over the decades, with only 8.4% of Americans moving in 2021, marking an all-time low. George Hahn attributes this trend to factors such as an aging population, a younger generation less inclined to relocate, and the high costs associated with moving, which have turned mobility into a luxury for many 1. He contrasts this with China, where internal migration is much more common, highlighting the economic and cultural impacts of reduced mobility in the U.S.:

When capital is not allocated to its best use, growth declines. A lack of mobility also affects culture, resulting in less dynamism, increased aversion to risk, and suspicion of outsiders.

--- George Hahn

This stagnation in movement is seen as a barrier to economic growth and cultural dynamism, with cities suffering from a lack of fresh talent and ideas 1.

   

City Vitality

The vitality of cities is closely linked to the movement of people in and out, which fuels economic health and cultural vibrancy. George Hahn emphasizes that cities are the heart of the economy, and the influx of young people and the relocation of older generations to suburbs are crucial for maintaining this heartbeat 1. However, political narratives often complicate urban renewal efforts, with debates over gentrification and the displacement of service workers 1.

The creative class that made New York great can't afford to live there now, and more and more of them don't.

--- George Hahn

This dynamic is mirrored in other cities like Austin, where affordability issues are driving away the very people who contribute to their cultural and economic success 1.