Hi folks,
I was doing some IP research on various areas around Aus. Anywho, the other day a good friend of mine moved back to Aus; having spent 3 years living in the UK. We caught up and he mentioned a trend called "White Flight" which I hadn't heard of. He remarked that it is occurring en-masse within the UK to other European countries (more on that in a bit).
But first, what is white flight? I'll share a wikipedia link below to a textbook definition, but really, the 21st century definition (in an IP-relevant way), can be summed up as pretty much being:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_flight
"Anglo/white people born and raised in what was once traditionally a mostly white/anglo country; finding themselves now living in urban areas that are highly multicultural/ethnically diverse. For whatever reasons; this community feels uncomfortable enough living there, to actively seek out and relocate to another area of the country - or another country entirely - where they feel more ethnically homogenous. I.e. to be with other 'white' people.
Pre 21st-century, the term was more attached to awful, racist, and inhumane policies by western countries to segregate people based on race/skin colour/cultural background.
I'm not talking about that definition today; I'm more talking about the 21st century 'trend' definition of 'white' people in their 'native' country (oh what a can of worms THAT notion could open up...) who are uncomfortable living where they are because they feel their culture/values are not present any more in this location; so they up and leave to find somewhere less multicultural to live; somewhere more like 'how it used to be in my current neighborhood'.
My friend explained it better with an example from the UK (where he mentioned it was occurring at significant scale). In his thoughts, basically racial tensions were quite high in many places in the UK, much higher than in most parts of Aus. He said that some 'white' UK citizens were seeking to flee the UK based on a general feeling that their culture has been suppressed and other cultures have dominated, and that they feel unsafe, rudely spoken to, and dejected, within their home suburb. Interestingly; a lot of them were moving to a completely different country and language in the pursuit of feeling more comfortable with the people around them?! That seems like a contradiction within itself, but he explained the general rationale or sentiment of the white flight-ers in moving to a different country, and it kinda makes sense...
Basically - and again none of this is my thoughts, I'm just repeating what was mentioned to me! - some people felt (And a lot of them more boomer/retirement age) more at home in rural Italy or southern France to live, instead of anywhere in the UK. They felt that people in these areas respected public property better, appreciated the local culture, spoke more politely and used manners, etc. And apparently, the Italians in particular love the UK arrivals who now reside in their country?! Why? Apparently the UK arrivals attempt to learn the local language, integrate more with society; respect the sometimes millenia-old buildings and architecture (some UK'ers were reported to even approach local Italian councils to get on the 'restoration and protection' boards and so on!?), and live quietly, peacefully, and integrate with the local community. So, the UK arrivals were not just arriving and creating 'Little England' suburbs that didn't integrate. The UK citizens also liked it because when they cashed out and sold up their boxy old properties in suburbs in England that they no longer felt comfortable living in; the revenue when exchanged into Euro and spent in rural France/Italy, bought them large farm and rural properties with very nice houses on them. So, they traded an unhappy life for a happier one, somewhere else.
In that sense, White Flight is the reverse immigration into Western countries by foreigners (I.e. foreigners doing the exact same thing; leaving a country where they are unhappy to live permanently in another country where they feel happier).
Basically, the Italians felt that the arriving UK citizens had great values and morals, and wanted people like this to join their communities. So, this notion of 'white flight' in a UK context apparently has created a great symbiotic relationship between the two countries.
This is a very touchy subject I know! And I will pull all this back into an IP context shortly (I promise!) just bare with me.
Now I'm not here to pass judgement or call people racist for having such views etc.; and the very notion of white flight opens a can of worms/debate in the public discourse as being viewed as being 'healthy' by some and 'unhealthy' by others. It is unhealthy because it creates racial tensions between groups of people in a country. Rather, I'm here to try and sieze IP buying opportunity in areas where demographers could be mapping such a phenomenon occurring as the baby boomers here in Aus start their retirement planning (will it be a capital city 'evacuation' by some baby boomers? Who knows).
You could argue that the white-flighters are racist and should learn to integrate better in their own country, with other sub-cultures. Or, you could argue they aren't racist, but rather that if things like crime/pollution/overcrowding/language barriers/ethnic & religious barriers etc. cause them to feel miserable where they are, then they should want to flee.
Touchy subject indeed.
Anyway, for whatever the reasons the trend seems to be increasing in several western countries I looked at (The UK, US, and Canada); and I wonder if this trend will emerge (or is already emerging?? Feel free to comment if you think it is!), in Australia too..
And, as a capitalistic property investor who always has his nose to the ground to sniff out the latest trends and think of possible IP buying strategies that result from the trend; I'd be interested to know what it could mean for Australia.
My friend suggested it worth keeping tabs on rural 'mostly white' coastal towns for IP purposes. If these pick-up in demand in the coming decade as a result of people fleeing more ethnically diverse areas, there could be gains to be had perhaps.
Controversial topic I know - but always a way to find opportunity from controversy, I'm sure!
I was doing some IP research on various areas around Aus. Anywho, the other day a good friend of mine moved back to Aus; having spent 3 years living in the UK. We caught up and he mentioned a trend called "White Flight" which I hadn't heard of. He remarked that it is occurring en-masse within the UK to other European countries (more on that in a bit).
But first, what is white flight? I'll share a wikipedia link below to a textbook definition, but really, the 21st century definition (in an IP-relevant way), can be summed up as pretty much being:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_flight
"Anglo/white people born and raised in what was once traditionally a mostly white/anglo country; finding themselves now living in urban areas that are highly multicultural/ethnically diverse. For whatever reasons; this community feels uncomfortable enough living there, to actively seek out and relocate to another area of the country - or another country entirely - where they feel more ethnically homogenous. I.e. to be with other 'white' people.
Pre 21st-century, the term was more attached to awful, racist, and inhumane policies by western countries to segregate people based on race/skin colour/cultural background.
I'm not talking about that definition today; I'm more talking about the 21st century 'trend' definition of 'white' people in their 'native' country (oh what a can of worms THAT notion could open up...) who are uncomfortable living where they are because they feel their culture/values are not present any more in this location; so they up and leave to find somewhere less multicultural to live; somewhere more like 'how it used to be in my current neighborhood'.
My friend explained it better with an example from the UK (where he mentioned it was occurring at significant scale). In his thoughts, basically racial tensions were quite high in many places in the UK, much higher than in most parts of Aus. He said that some 'white' UK citizens were seeking to flee the UK based on a general feeling that their culture has been suppressed and other cultures have dominated, and that they feel unsafe, rudely spoken to, and dejected, within their home suburb. Interestingly; a lot of them were moving to a completely different country and language in the pursuit of feeling more comfortable with the people around them?! That seems like a contradiction within itself, but he explained the general rationale or sentiment of the white flight-ers in moving to a different country, and it kinda makes sense...
Basically - and again none of this is my thoughts, I'm just repeating what was mentioned to me! - some people felt (And a lot of them more boomer/retirement age) more at home in rural Italy or southern France to live, instead of anywhere in the UK. They felt that people in these areas respected public property better, appreciated the local culture, spoke more politely and used manners, etc. And apparently, the Italians in particular love the UK arrivals who now reside in their country?! Why? Apparently the UK arrivals attempt to learn the local language, integrate more with society; respect the sometimes millenia-old buildings and architecture (some UK'ers were reported to even approach local Italian councils to get on the 'restoration and protection' boards and so on!?), and live quietly, peacefully, and integrate with the local community. So, the UK arrivals were not just arriving and creating 'Little England' suburbs that didn't integrate. The UK citizens also liked it because when they cashed out and sold up their boxy old properties in suburbs in England that they no longer felt comfortable living in; the revenue when exchanged into Euro and spent in rural France/Italy, bought them large farm and rural properties with very nice houses on them. So, they traded an unhappy life for a happier one, somewhere else.
In that sense, White Flight is the reverse immigration into Western countries by foreigners (I.e. foreigners doing the exact same thing; leaving a country where they are unhappy to live permanently in another country where they feel happier).
Basically, the Italians felt that the arriving UK citizens had great values and morals, and wanted people like this to join their communities. So, this notion of 'white flight' in a UK context apparently has created a great symbiotic relationship between the two countries.
This is a very touchy subject I know! And I will pull all this back into an IP context shortly (I promise!) just bare with me.
Now I'm not here to pass judgement or call people racist for having such views etc.; and the very notion of white flight opens a can of worms/debate in the public discourse as being viewed as being 'healthy' by some and 'unhealthy' by others. It is unhealthy because it creates racial tensions between groups of people in a country. Rather, I'm here to try and sieze IP buying opportunity in areas where demographers could be mapping such a phenomenon occurring as the baby boomers here in Aus start their retirement planning (will it be a capital city 'evacuation' by some baby boomers? Who knows).
You could argue that the white-flighters are racist and should learn to integrate better in their own country, with other sub-cultures. Or, you could argue they aren't racist, but rather that if things like crime/pollution/overcrowding/language barriers/ethnic & religious barriers etc. cause them to feel miserable where they are, then they should want to flee.
Touchy subject indeed.
Anyway, for whatever the reasons the trend seems to be increasing in several western countries I looked at (The UK, US, and Canada); and I wonder if this trend will emerge (or is already emerging?? Feel free to comment if you think it is!), in Australia too..
And, as a capitalistic property investor who always has his nose to the ground to sniff out the latest trends and think of possible IP buying strategies that result from the trend; I'd be interested to know what it could mean for Australia.
My friend suggested it worth keeping tabs on rural 'mostly white' coastal towns for IP purposes. If these pick-up in demand in the coming decade as a result of people fleeing more ethnically diverse areas, there could be gains to be had perhaps.
Controversial topic I know - but always a way to find opportunity from controversy, I'm sure!