Crisis of American dream? Why many are leaving the US ... and also UK

By Bhabani Shankar Nayak 

Despite the rise of nationalist rhetoric, anti-immigration politics, and increasingly polarised public discourse in the United States and the United Kingdom, growing numbers of people are choosing to leave these traditional centres of global capitalism. Recent reports suggest that more than 68 per cent of Americans would consider moving abroad permanently. The UK’s Office for National Statistics reported that around 257,000 British citizens left the country in December 2024, while reports indicate that more than 295,000 people left the United States in 2025.

Many people are relocating to countries in the European Union, Mexico, and other parts of the world in search of better living conditions, greater social stability, and improved quality of life. Some are also renouncing their citizenship. These developments point to deeper structural concerns within advanced capitalist societies, extending beyond immediate political divisions or rising living costs.

A significant number of those planning to leave the USA and the UK cite economic pressures as a major reason. For many households, rising housing costs, expensive healthcare, mounting debt, and job insecurity have created a sense that economic survival has overtaken the possibility of a stable and fulfilling life. Access to affordable housing, quality education, and reliable healthcare is increasingly becoming difficult for large sections of the population.

Political polarisation and the growth of reactionary rhetoric have also contributed to growing social unease. Public debates around immigration, identity, inequality, and economic insecurity have intensified, creating a sense of instability in many communities. Working people in particular face mounting dissatisfaction over stagnant wages, inflation, weakened public services, and uncertain economic prospects.

Economic data reflects some of these anxieties. According to the US Census Bureau, several American cities are experiencing population decline linked to economic distress and changing employment patterns. Similarly, a number of UK cities, including Aberdeen, Bradford, Coventry, Birmingham, Glasgow, Manchester, Sheffield, Hull, Newcastle, and Newport, have struggled with stagnation or uneven economic recovery. London, despite remaining a major global financial centre, has also experienced slowing productivity growth since 2019.

Concerns over quality of life are increasingly visible in international well-being rankings. In the World Happiness Index 2025, the UK fell from 21st to 29th place globally. The United States has also witnessed declining levels of reported happiness, particularly among younger people, who face rising economic uncertainty, social isolation, and mental health challenges. The World Happiness Report 2026 highlighted growing dissatisfaction among many young Americans regarding their future prospects.

Mental health trends further underline these pressures. According to the American Psychiatric Association, anxiety, depression, and other mental health concerns are rising across the United States. In the UK, mental health issues affect a substantial section of the adult population. While these problems have multiple causes, economic insecurity, social fragmentation, and declining access to support systems are widely recognised as contributing factors.

The idea of the “American Dream” was historically associated with upward mobility, economic opportunity, and individual freedom. Similar aspirations shaped capitalist development in the UK and other Western societies. However, critics increasingly argue that these promises have become harder to achieve for ordinary people. Growing inequality, concentration of wealth, and declining social mobility have raised questions about whether existing economic systems can continue to deliver broad-based prosperity.

Critics of capitalism argue that the system prioritises profit and accumulation over social welfare, leading to widening inequalities and environmental degradation. They contend that recurring economic crises, labour exploitation, and social insecurity are not temporary distortions but structural features of capitalism itself. Others, however, maintain that capitalism remains capable of reform through stronger welfare systems, public investment, labour protections, and democratic regulation.

The growing dissatisfaction visible in the United States and the United Kingdom suggests that many people are questioning the direction of contemporary capitalist societies. Whether the answer lies in reforming capitalism or in developing alternative economic models remains a matter of political and ideological debate. What is clear, however, is that concerns about inequality, insecurity, and quality of life are becoming increasingly central to public discussions about the future of society.