[photonios]

> The tech industry is a major factor in this, where senior-level positions in non-FAANG companies can make upwards of $150k/yr in the US, and the PPP equivalent European salary is around half of that.

Why does this matter so much when there is affordable healthcare, lots of social programs to save you in case things don't go so well?

I am honestly asking. I am in Europe and my salary is half of what I could make in the US, but it never bothered me. I have a very chill life and more money wouldn't make me significantly happier.

[tristor]

> Why does this matter so much when there is affordable healthcare, lots of social programs to save you in case things don't go so well?

Because when things are going well it means you lose out on a lot of economic opportunity and not everyone feels the same way about the probability of things not going well, or who has the responsibility to cover them in the case that things don't go well. As I said in another comment, increased medical costs which impact uninsured or underinsured people in the US basically don't exist for tech workers who have high-quality employer-paid medical benefits in the US. So those factors don't detract people from moving here if they see other benefits to go along with the economic benefits.

Certainly, it is the case that this has it's trade-offs. I'm not making any value judgement on what the correct decision is for anyone but myself, but just trying to share some of the reasoning I've heard (from a probably biased subset of people).

[novok]

You have affordable healthcare if your making tech money in the USA too, and sadly, if things really go bad you can always move back.

Also by making more money, you can retire early and then work on whatever hobby project you'd like. I know in europe with generous social programs you kind of can do that already to a certain extent, but with money you can actually do that for a long time.

[908B64B197]

> Why does this matter so much when there is affordable healthcare, lots of social programs to save you in case things don't go so well?

World class healthcare is included on top of the compensation at FAANG. Also, what are these social programs you refer to?

[fnord123]

Statutory Maternity/Paternal/Parental leave. No 'fire for no reason' laws (i.e. laws against the Orwellian double speak "at will" employment). Anti-no-compete laws (this exists in California).