Bryan Caplan recently wrote that if people primarily cared about relative income—simply being richer than those around them—they would frequently choose to move to poorer neighborhoods or even poorer countries, instantly improving their relative status.
Many years ago, I chose not to relocate to Canada from India—even after receiving my PR. On paper, the move made financial sense: my salary in dollars would have been higher in absolute terms. But the trade-offs were steep.
In India, I was a senior professional with a respected job, a company-provided house and car, and my children attended a good school. In Canada, my qualifications weren’t recognized, and I was offered unskilled, entry-level jobs that didn’t reflect my experience or expertise. My social standing, quality of life, and professional identity would have taken a sharp hit.
Unlike many others, I wasn’t willing to reset my life that drastically, even if Canada objectively offered better infrastructure and services. I still wonder how to place my experience in the broader conversation around immigration—especially when weighing absolute versus relative income, and how much status and quality of life really matter.
So true! I have similar problems with Caplan, that while his arguments are in the correct direction, he is not connected to reality enough for his "economic intuitions" to be truly deep and insightful
Many years ago, I chose not to relocate to Canada from India—even after receiving my PR. On paper, the move made financial sense: my salary in dollars would have been higher in absolute terms. But the trade-offs were steep.
In India, I was a senior professional with a respected job, a company-provided house and car, and my children attended a good school. In Canada, my qualifications weren’t recognized, and I was offered unskilled, entry-level jobs that didn’t reflect my experience or expertise. My social standing, quality of life, and professional identity would have taken a sharp hit.
Unlike many others, I wasn’t willing to reset my life that drastically, even if Canada objectively offered better infrastructure and services. I still wonder how to place my experience in the broader conversation around immigration—especially when weighing absolute versus relative income, and how much status and quality of life really matter.
So true! I have similar problems with Caplan, that while his arguments are in the correct direction, he is not connected to reality enough for his "economic intuitions" to be truly deep and insightful
PLU