Possible positive side effects for PGH of the recession (Pittsburgh: college, moving)

[BrianTH]

The recession has dramatically changed migration patterns in the United States. The most obvious fact is that both international immigration and domestic migration are down on a national level, but the subnational patterns have shifted as well.

Courtesy of Chris Briem's Null Space blog, here is a very interesting chart:



Brookings - Quality. Independence. Impact.

If this data is correct, Pittsburgh had a remarkable shift from outmigration of adults 25+ with college degrees to inmigration of such adults, comparing 2005-07 to 2007-09.

Obviously Pittsburgh is not alone in this, and here is a more general commentary about shifting patterns observable in the data:

Population Migration Declines Further: Stalling Brain Gains and Ambitions - Brookings Institution

But as the first chart indicates, Pittsburgh appears to have experienced one of the most dramatic shifts among the top 52 metros.

Of course this may not last. But if it does, it could be transformative in ways I think even most Pittsburgh "cheerleaders" are not really anticipating.

[airwave09]

This is great news. If these trends continue combined with our improving B/D ratio and a steady (albeit small) increase in international immigration, we should start to see an actual positive population increase for the metro area over the next few of years.

This is a very important barrier to overcome obviously for psychological reasons, but it could also start a sort of "snowball effect" on new investment and future migration to the city/metro. I know that finally moving out of the red and into the green will be a cause for celebration for many on this board and to those who have already invested so much to help turn this city around.