That might be true, but also consider this. These people are watching their peers, as well as their students being persecuted and in some cases removed from campus. A lower salary (if applicable) is more appealing than no salary, or in some cases being harassed by the current administration.
EDIT: Salaries also do not equate to quality of living. While Canada might not be the best example with housing prices being as high as they are, they do have other benefits, such as the average American paying more for wealth care. And in the case of the EU, there's other things to consider, such as their cities vs American cities (walkable vs drivable), individuals might also be interested in experiencing foreign countries with long history, unique cultures, etc... especially considering these are academic people.
There's all sorts of reasons one could take a lower salary for that occurs to me, and I'm sure many more that don't. Of course more money IS always welcome.
But you are just proving WeylandYutani’s point. You can make good money outside the US (ex. Switzerland, Singapore, etc) but because your preconceived notion you don’t even look at the evidence. I won’t be arguing on the definition of ‘perfect’ which is highly subjective.
Culturally you've been brought up with the idea that more money is the only measure of quality of life, through that lens I do understand your thinking but I believe you might need to reconsider if that even makes sense.
Making good money is necessary in the USA for one to feel free, without it you don't have freedom since almost everything in the USA revolves around money. When you experience freedom even from the need of making good money while still having a decent life you'll know true freedom.
Other parts of the developed world can deliver that, consuming is not the point after a certain level of comfort, more and bigger doesn't translate to a better life, it's just that in the USA it does.
You can live a very fulfilling life without having to worry about making more money to buy another car, to save for your kids' education, to save for medical emergencies, to access cultural experiences, etc. It's just a very different way of living, unfortunately Americans have been turned into hyperconsumers, your whole economy is designed around that idea and so the thought that life is more than purchases feels alien.
Europeans overestimate how bad the US healthcare system is, number 1.
Number 2, Americans have the most spending money on average compared to any other country in the world.
Number 3, the most important technology and cultural advancements come out of the US; the US is where its happening—in a city like New York you can get the best of anything in the world, and then some.
So no, Americans who make a lot of money live the best lives, and never want to leave. It takes some cahunas and some wits to make it in the US, not everyone can cut it.
You are just repeating yourself, and confirming what I said: you have a cultural bias and only see things through that lens.
> Number 3, the most important technology and cultural advancements come out of the US; the US is where its happening—in a city like New York you can get the best of anything in the world, and then some.
This is simply untrue, and reeks of very heavy ignorant American exceptionalism. I've been to NYC multiple times, there are many other cities around the world that provide the same experience.
I have traveled extensively and no city I've been to offers so many opportunities for rapid movement of diverse labor and commerce like New York. London pales in comparison.
Perhaps Shanghai is beginning to overwhelm NYC in terms of sheer industrial activity, but what comes out of the fight between Trumpism and Xi-ism is yet to be seen.
In any case, it is easy enough for wealthy Americans who own private jets and multiple homes to purchase EU citizenship; and yet America still abounds in billionaires...it is not an accident.
A playground for the rich does not make a country perfect, again you are conflating being wealthy with being good for living. I never said the USA isn't wealthy, it's more that it's rather bad for living a normal life despite being the wealthiest country in history.
It's great to be rich in the USA, life isn't about being rich though, as much as your culture has ingrained that in your head to the point where, clearly on this comment thread, you don't even notice it.
Its not a playground for the rich, its a playground for the upper-middle class and above. No other country besides the US provides such well-paying wage labor. You can't make seven figures a year as a salary, as a worker practically anywhere else.
Life isn't about being rich, its just that if you work hard its not difficult to do well in the US and have anything you'd want at the best quality anywhere in the world. Anyone making $100,000+ a year (and that is ALOT of Americans) has a great time in the US. Yeah a lot of people don't make it but thats how it is. Without risk there's nothing interesting in life; I don't want a mediocre, boring life with a million social safety nets, I want something chaotic and crazy and constantly active, and you can't get that anywhere else.
Almost nobody in the US is in that state either. Yes, the system has a lot of problems, but coverage is generally quite good and the quality of care is better than many places in Europe (the UK for sure, but that's a bad example).
This is not true. 2/3 of bankrupt filings in the US are due to medical costs - a number which does not capture the high levels of medical debt carried by people who do not declare bankruptcy.
EDIT: Salaries also do not equate to quality of living. While Canada might not be the best example with housing prices being as high as they are, they do have other benefits, such as the average American paying more for wealth care. And in the case of the EU, there's other things to consider, such as their cities vs American cities (walkable vs drivable), individuals might also be interested in experiencing foreign countries with long history, unique cultures, etc... especially considering these are academic people.
There's all sorts of reasons one could take a lower salary for that occurs to me, and I'm sure many more that don't. Of course more money IS always welcome.