Why Americans Are Going Overseas: It’s Not Red vs. Blue

Last week I interviewed Murat Coskun, founder of the popular migration agency Get Golden Visa. He graciously gave me an advanced copy of their recent report on trends in immigration from the US, based on research with hundreds of their own clients.

The results are striking... and confirm my own experience with the dozens of people who’ve taken advantage of my consultation service at Global Citizen.

Consider some of the statistics from the report:

46% of respondents cited US political instability and the threat of unrest as the main reason for wanting to find a new home abroad.

33% cited a high and rising cost of living in the US compared to other countries. Healthcare is a particular problem in this regard.

51% said improved quality of life is the key determinant in where they choose to go.

84% said they preferred a destination in the European Union.

50% said that they had started their search for a new home abroad several years before retirement, and spent at least a year researching the process and identifying a suitable destination.

As I said, this mirrors what I'm hearing from people who consult with me at Global Citizen (although closer to 70 to 80% of the people I speak to are motivated by US politics).

I asked Murat whether he detected any “red versus blue” patterns in the response to their research. Was either group overrepresented in those wishing to move abroad?

His answer didn't surprise me: not at all. He sees the same pattern as I am. Party-political affiliation and policy preferences aren’t what’s driving immigration from the US.

This is something I've seen repeatedly. Most conservative Americans I meet are perfectly willing to move to a country with higher taxes… they're confident those taxes will be well spent and contribute to an improved quality of life. Democrats would like to see their party’s agenda enacted but are convinced it won't happen—the US political system is too dysfunctional. They'd rather take their chances abroad.

Another statistic from Get Golden Visa’s report supports the view that red-versus-blue isn’t what’s driving emigration from the US. Only 8% of respondents reported that they were considering renouncing their US citizenship. Most wanted to stay connected to their country of birth and aren’t ready to turn their back on it.

Instead, the problem is the breakdown of institutions and the inability of the US “system” to fix them. In that respect Democrats and Republicans have the same concerns. They may cite different issues, but when you drill down, the biggest problem is how the US manages itself—or rather, doesn't.

For example, there’s no difference between conservatives and liberals when it comes to the outrageous cost of US health care. They're well aware that the system is rigged in favor of big business interests and prioritizes private profit over public health. Most people say the same thing about many essential services, including telecommunications, education, and food supply. Republicans and Democrats alike enjoy paying less for Internet and cell service, and eating cheaper, healthier food.

I think that's an important thing to bear in mind as election season heats up in the US. Thinking seriously about moving abroad doesn't peg you as liberal or conservative, red or blue, Democrat or Republican.

It just means you're the type of person who knows when a Plan B is in order.