Westerners are fleeing their countries in record numbers

GateUser-9ad11037 · 2026-03-22T11:00:59+00:00

Jacinda Ardern's move to Harvard and then Sydney after stepping down as New Zealand's prime minister has sparked concern among Kiwis about rising emigration. This trend reflects a broader issue in the West, where increasing numbers are leaving, highlighting the implications of the "expat economy."

GateUser-9ad11037

2026-03-22 11:00:59

Abstract generation in progress

After stepping down as New Zealand’s prime minister in 2023, Jacinda Ardern took up a role at Harvard University. Now she is based in Sydney. Ms Ardern’s decision to live abroad has struck a nerve with Kiwis, who were already worried about high levels of emigration. Anxiety over the former prime minister’s living arrangements hints at a wider trend across the West. Politicians focus on how many people migrate to their country. Less noticed is that people are leaving in record numbers. The rise of the “expat economy” will have profound consequences.

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