However, a quick perusal finds that while they did consider the effect of employment (yes/no), they did not look at the relationship between income and migration. People with a well-paying job in a sought-after profession or field are much more likely to risk a move to a new space. Similarly, those with uncertain job prospects (and a family to support) are less likely to throw caution to the wind and leap into the unknown.

I could easily see that economic and family status has a greater impact on migration than psychological temperament. With that, we find ourselves now in a perfect storm against migration: frozen housing market, rising unemployment, declining wages, dwindling consumer confidence. It’s time to ‘hunker down’ until the storm passes.

Best, Bert