What are these geniuses providing the world?
Cell phone aps?
Financial "products" that collapse and require massive bailouts of the banks?

I suspect a reason compensation is so low is that people assume that part of the survey implies they can afford to live in the city in question. When the quesquestion about NYC comes up, people think relorelocating to NYC means living in NYC, not computing from a cheaper suburb.

When you ask about relocation it implies a well paying job, including vacation and benefits. Thsee cities might be great if you are offered a nice job, but terrible places to start your career, especially since employers can just hire a foreign worker just as easily as a local graduate. America is a talent magnet but consider how many Americans don't receive time off, or even healthcare.

These are the globall 1% cities whichave are doing very well, but what can be done about economic development in the vast majority of cities which aren't global talent magnets.

sucks to be them!

So this is sort of the opposite of the "help the poor" part of urbanism. This is the "where the most successful people want to go". Now how about the majority in the middle?? What cities are right for them?

I think NYC is the place to be for certain professions where, if you make it, you can make so much more money in NYC v. other cities that the high cost of living isn't an issue. For those who don't make it, or don't try, or work in careers where the pay differential isn't as great, then why there's plenty of space available in other cities for the taking!

if NYC is not your cup of tea, there is always Tulsa

Apparently, your knowledge of the U.S. outside of NYC is very limited.

Not really, Ive seen enough of this nation to become both horrified and fascinated at the same time to the point I should draft a book about it. In this book, there will be a chapter on "Ruralsit Trolls" whom tend to learn the hard way that these same "Ruralist" have always existed in society (thanks to religion) and haven't the slightest idea how to deal with "Big Numbers" both monetary and people. Beyond reminding people how much splendor and grander that is still left to be found through America, most of it you will find in New York while another American is hell bent on a different vision that involves strip malls, big box stores, big glups, and dead malls thus good luck with that. Enjoy all those parking lots while you are at it.

I can't like this post enough.

It's called "Data Driven Journalism" which, to be fair, is hardly journalism

Mr. Florida did not conduct the survey.

Less poverty in Madrid than any American city. And "top brains" aren't interacting with the proletariat anyway.

Actually it's doing rather poorly, but universal health care + 89% home ownership + far less inequality + strong familial support (normal to live with family into 30s) means the amount of people suffering from poverty is less - you won't see homeless people in the streets like in the US. I wouldn't move there to advance you career, but that's a pretty soulless reason to choose your home anyway.

I think a lot of the younger set that moves abroad do it mainly for career reasons (slash adventure). Not soulless per se, but when you don't have the commitment of a family or other deep roots there is not much holding you back. Do it while you're young really.

more things nobody gives a flying (bleep) about. Take that "doom and gloom" elsewhere. You people can find the negative in a cupcake if it would fit your agenda. How about them apples, nobody cares bout your poverty.

You cite both sales tax and poverty, even though the top responses cite work environment factors. Besides, barcelona is one of the most amazing cities in the world--in my top three. I would take a lower paying job to live there.

actually i found the weather in miami to suck. it was hot, humid, and muggy. at least, you get seasons in boston.

Greater Buffalo and the Upstate Cities of New York are well within this new age global talent belt of Toronto and New York, now how do you prosper from this in someway? Not just as a city however has a whole upstate region, the possibilities are endless.

Upstate New York is benefiting from its proximity to major cities like Toronto and New York. For instance, Canadians spend nearly a billion dollars a year in the Buffalo area. Rochester exports a great deal for a city its size, and I suspect that a lot of those exports go to Canada. Improving transportation links with major cities like Toronto, New York, Boston and Montreal. perhaps with high speed rail, would increase economic benefits to Upstate NY.