[torginus]

I think that's the chief difference between countries that do well with immigration and the ones that don't - I have some French friends, who have basically fled the country because Paris has become unlivable - too expensive, too little space, and if someone with a good education and income has found it a struggle to get a decent place and live a good life, how is life for the rest of society?

[mrtksn]

>I have some French friends, who have basically fled the country

Are those friends enjoying the irony of becoming immigrants to escape immigrants?

[Gud]

I doubt those friends were escaping an influx of skilled labor. Immigration is a complex topic, it is not something binary.

[torginus]

I don't think it's a good idea to take the culture war angle - I was just pointing out the fact that some countries/societies are set up in a way that promote their capitals into unhealthy economic centers of gravity, that attract way too many people. Which in turn, strains the local services and housing situation to an unreasonable degree, causing all sorts of misery for the inhabitants.

It's natural - and necessary for self regulation - for people to take the initiative and move out of these places.

[mrtksn]

I wasn't but I also couldn't get over the irony of it. However, the misery aspect must be much more complex. For example, why people are not building more homes? Are we out of bricks? Also, as you pointed out the centralisation around a major city is another aspect of it.

Unfortunately we are having hard times. IMHO, a huge part of it is the contemporary landed gentry.

[FirmwareBurner]

>Are those friends enjoying the irony of becoming immigrants to escape immigrants?

Every country welcomes you with open arms if you're a skilled and educated laborer in areas of shortage and not migrating to be a burden on the welfare system.

[flakron]

they are not immigrants, they are expats /s

[thinkingtoilet]

I have some bad news for your friends. Cities are becoming more expensive everywhere regardless of immigration. Private equity is buying up houses/apartments en masse and "maximizing profit". Inflation is very real. Immigration will certainly be an issue in some cities, but it's not all roses everywhere else.

[mrtksn]

Exactly. People like to demonise the poor immigrants that would like to work and welcome the rich ones with open arms but the life has become so hard in cities especially due to the rich ones who don't add anything to the society because they don't even live there and even if they live, don't engage with the local population. They swoop in, claim the resources and actively extract them(for example by keeping the apartment empty).