Reports of a mass exodus from Britain are based on a misunderstanding of official statistics. A 2021 switch in methodology—from flawed airport surveys to more reliable tax and benefits data—created a statistical discontinuity that falsely suggests a recent surge in emigration when none exists.
Analysis of OECD data reveals that, contrary to a "brain drain" narrative, British emigration rose before Brexit as citizens used their last chance for free movement. After 2021, outflows experienced a "cliff edge" drop, demonstrating that Brexit had a restrictive, rather than motivating, effect on Britons leaving the country.
Beyond the property slump, the Chinese art market's decline is linked to state policy. A crackdown on "opulent spending" and tighter capital controls have reduced the art market's utility as a tool for both flaunting wealth and discreetly moving money out of the country, thus depressing demand.
The US Mint loses significant money producing each penny. This effective government subsidy primarily benefits retailers by enabling "charm pricing" (e.g., $20.99 vs. $21), a psychological tactic that encourages consumption by making prices appear lower than they are. The coin's existence underpins this widespread marketing strategy.
While China's property collapse cratered its art market, a future recovery may be driven by tech billionaires becoming patrons. This shift from speculative property magnates to potentially more stable, genuine collectors could create a healthier, albeit different, market dynamic, breaking the previous link between art and real estate.