The Topic
This week, the article that really jumped out at me was from the New York Times, titled “Americans Head to Europe for the Good Life on the Cheap“. The title is obviously a bit cheeky and sensationalist, implying that Americans are flocking to Europe solely to live well for less money, however, the article touches on a broader scope of issues, including digital nomads, the appeal of a European lifestyle, and how countries like Spain, Greece and Portugal have courted foreigners and corporations, hoping to bolster their own economies. The article also raises some important points about how foreign investment into real estate can disrupt local communities inflating housing costs and upsetting local residents.
An interesting fact from the article was that by 2022, there were nearly 10,000 American citizens living in Portugal. The reason this article, as I said, jumped out at me was that our new series, Moving To, is about relocating to new and interesting places around the world and as The New York Times put it, looking for the good life. Our new series has been immensely popular, and really seems to be resonating with people. So far we have covered Versailles, Toledo, and Como.
The reason we created this series is because we feel there is a genuine interest, not just from the US, but globally, in where people want to live. Perhaps outside choosing a life partner, where you live might be one of the most significant life choices you can make determining your quality of life, opportunities, and social options.
Affordability is definitely an important criteria, but perhaps not what is necessarily the driving factor for people relocating to Europe and further afield. Opportunity through working online and or working for yourself certainly seems to be a key element. Polarised domestic politics and culture wars may also be factors influencing people’s decision to look for calmer places to live.
Don't Bank on It
The big story on the financial pages has been the collapse of several banks starting with Silvergate Bank on March 8, followed 2 days, later by Silicon Valley Bank and finally, on March 12, regulators shut down Signature Bank, citing systemic risks. The collapses of Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank were the second and third largest bank failures in the history of the United States. The banks’ collapse was ultimately triggered by a liquidity crisis when it was unable to meet its short-term funding obligations, leading to a loss in confidence among investors and a run on the bank.
Watch
Silicon Valley Bank: What really went wrong?
Listening
Young Fathers – Heavy Heavy
I’m a huge fan of this band, going back to their first releases in 2013 and have featured them on many of our Playlists. Musically, you could consider Young Fathers an experimental hip-hop group, however, their sound is difficult to pin down, as they blend a range of genres such as neo-soul, electropop, R&B, and hip-hop. On this album, they have continued to evolve their sound with bright melodies, calypso rhythms, and bold orchestration. An engrossing, chaotic, yet controlled listen.
Thank You
We are grateful that our website has been able to inspire you with our collection of carefully curated images from the internet over the past 15 years. Your support through purchases in our shop not only allows you to take home a piece of that inspiration, but it also directly supports the hard work and dedication that goes into maintaining and updating our website. We invite you to check out our collection of beautiful art prints, printed at the finest printing studio in London on 310gsm Hahnemuhle German Etching paper. Your support is truly appreciated and helps us continue to bring you the best content for your ideas and dreams. Thank you for choosing TIG.
Enjoy your Sunday, wherever you are.