The first American academics fleeing Donald Trump’s America for France have arrived.
Aix-Marseille University last week introduced eight U.S.-based researchers who were in the final stage of joining the institution’s “Safe Place for Science" program, which aims to woo researchers who have experienced or fear funding cuts under the Trump administration. AMU offers the promise of a brighter future in the sun-drenched Mediterranean port city.
While both France and the European Union have launched multimillion-euro plans to woo researchers across the pond since Trump assumed the U.S. presidency in January, AMU’s initiative was the first of its kind in the country — meaning the eight researchers who were welcomed are the first academic refugees planning to trade the United States for France.
Cost of living is significantly lower, and the social safety net means you don’t need as much anyway.
My gut feel is wages are so much higher in the US because everyone is responsible for looking after themselves if life turns on them, so you’re obliged to stockpile wealth in case you’re suddenly jobless or have a giant medical or education bill to contend with.
I agree, but don’t forget that every year, things get harder because everything is trying to find more ways to take that extra money from you. From schools, companies, and government they are all figuring out ways to come up with new mandatory requirements for stuff that normally ends up being a new fee or payment on top of what you used to need. For example when you are in school, you probably need way more certifications in things which costs more money either by a 1 time fee or sometimes yearly fees and a lot of this never existed 20-30 years ago. I feel like we pay for literally everything, and it all keeps going up as well. It’s hard to get ahead when everyone wants a piece of your pie.
While that is true, academic wages are still laughably low in Europe, even compared to wages here.
You can earn more after 5 years in the industry than as a full professor in academia. We should pay academics more.
It was one of the reasons I left academia. I doubled my pay within two years.
This. People can make more in the US because the country doesn’t give a fuck about it’s people. It’s like gambling the health and wellness of you and your family to horde up some Cash.
We call it savings, not hoarding. But yeah. You need it. If you lose your job here, you’re fucked.
For a lot of people in this country it’s hording. But I get what you mean.
One illness and it’s all gone. House, kit and kaboodle.
To be fair, it’s really one serious illness.
Not really. Could be something entirely fine but requiring monthly medication. If you can’t afford that. You’re fuck.
We have people rationing insulin in this country for Christ sake.
Well, sure, if we’re gonna bring in the do you have insurance factor, then it becomes a whole different game. If you don’t have insurance, I don’t even know. Death is probably imminent…
There are plenty of people whose policies get cancelled or there insurance companies refuse to cover stuff.
I know. I was trying to say that if we take that into account, it gets a whole lot worse.
Absolutely free healthcare and education are big parts of doing more with less, and quality of life.
But it’s also easier to buy a house or apartment, and quality food is cheaper, and paid holidays and on and on.
We have so many privileges Americans don’t have it’s crazy.