4 Anxieties Expats Say Made Them Leave Their Home Country

Many expats leave their home countries due to anxieties related to economic instability, security concerns, technological advancements, and mental health challenges. While moving overseas may not solve global issues, it can offer individual benefits like reduced living costs, increased safety, slower-paced lives, and improved mental well-being, fulfilling dreams of a more fulfilling and relaxed life.

Economic Anxiety

• 00:01:27 Expats are concerned about economic factors such as recessions, government debt, AI's impact on jobs, and rising living costs. They fear these could lead to wealth inequality, a declining middle class, and the long-term viability of social security being threatened. The speaker provides data on the US debt-to-GDP ratio, suggesting that while high, it hasn't reached unsustainable levels yet.

Security Anxiety

• 00:04:22 Expats express concerns about increasing crime rates, political polarization, and the potential for civil war. Data security breaches, identity theft, and human-caused weather events contribute to these anxieties. Recently, the fear of a world war has also emerged as a concern for many.

Technological Anxiety

• 00:04:44 Concerns surround the digital divide, falling behind new technologies, job losses due to automation, and loss of online accounts. The speaker mentions the fear of being locked out of banking access and slower adoption rates of new technologies in some countries.

Mental Health Anxiety

• 00:05:01 Expats face anxieties related to the fast-paced modern world, feeling that politicians are not addressing critical issues and that humanity is heading in the wrong direction. This leads to a loss of hope for the future, highlighting a desire for a more relaxed, slower-paced lifestyle.