It was reported this week that from 2000-2008 New York lost more population than any other state. According to the report from the Empire Center for New York State Policy, New York experienced "a net domestic migration outflow of over 1.5 million, or 8 percent of its population at the start of the decade."
The question that needs to be answered is "Why?"
Well, it doesn't take that much to answer that question... All you have to do is ask someone who lives here what's wrong with it. But, I might as well show you what those involved in the study found.
Wendell Cox, an Illinois-based researcher who led the study, said New York, particularly in the New York City area, had seen home prices over the last decade greatly outpace incomes compared to other states. Also, New York is among the highest taxed states in the country, he said.
But he said it also has to do with people moving to warm-weather states at a greater rate.
"The issues of cost and taxation are likely to be driving issues," he said. "But no matter what you do, I don’t anticipate you’ll grow as fast as Arizona."
Eariler this year a Siena Poll found that 21% of New York residents would consider moving out of New York (either as quickly as possible or unless things improve), and another study found New York to be at the bottom of the fifty states when ranked for personal and economic liberty.
Things don't seem to be improving in the Empire State either. A new bottle tax on water goes into effect on Halloween, and the legislature is trying to work out legislation mandating that all car owners must get new, more expensive license plate next year. So you tell me, why are people leaving? Is it really a tough thing to answer?