According to analysts like Aaron Renn, the exodus of educated Millennials from what some perceive to be less-glamorous cities shouldn't signal impending doom. For one thing, brain drain might not be happening at all.

City leaders often worry about retaining the educated Millennial demographic. "Practically every city has complained at some point about the existential threat of brain drain. Yet, look at current data, and you might start to think cities today are fighting a phantom."
Commentators like the Manhattan Institute's Aaron Renn see a pervasive and unfounded paranoia in the brain drain phenomenon. "An oft-used metaphor regarding Midwest cities is that hemorrhaging young talent is like a leaky tub, with grads flowing to glitzier economies in New York, Silicon Valley and Boston."
In a recent paper, Renn calls the factual basis of that metaphor into question. "Between 2000 and 2013, the amount of adults with a bachelor's degree or better grew substantially — by at least double digits — in all 28 metros" classified as the nation's largest "shrinking cities." Their populations might be shrinking, but many postindustrial cities are actually becoming better educated.
The problem may lie with undue emphasis placed on collegiate retention rates. "When you're focused exclusively on retaining people with college degrees, you're focusing a lot on problems of the elite," says Renn. Retention rates also ignore arriving degree-holders who attended school elsewhere.
FULL STORY: The Trouble With Fretting Too Much About Brain Drain

Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly
Verbal attacks, misinformation campaigns and fistfights plague a high-stakes debate to convert thousands of vacation rentals into long-term housing.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

In Urban Planning, AI Prompting Could be the New Design Thinking
Creativity has long been key to great urban design. What if we see AI as our new creative partner?

Portland Raises Parking Fees to Pay for Street Maintenance
The city is struggling to bridge a massive budget gap at the Bureau of Transportation, which largely depleted its reserves during the Civd-19 pandemic.

Spokane Mayor Introduces Housing Reforms Package
Mayor Lisa Brown’s proposals include deferring or waiving some development fees to encourage more affordable housing development.

Houston Mayor Kills Another Bike Lane
The mayor rejected a proposed bike lane in the Montrose district in keeping with his pledge to maintain car lanes.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Gallatin County Department of Planning & Community Development
Heyer Gruel & Associates PA
JM Goldson LLC
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
Jefferson Parish Government
Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Claremont