Every election, liberals threaten to move to Canada if a conservative wins the White House, and right-wing talk-show hosts offer to gladly pick up the tab. This past election year was no different, and if anything, social media has made these calls seem even louder. The Economist breaks down this year's surge in interest:
- The Canadian immigration department's website crashed on election night.
- Royal LePage, Canada's largest realtor, said the number of Americans looking at homes on its website rose 40% in the last three months of 2016, compared with the same period the previous year.
- Applications from American students to study at Canadian universities have jumped, at some schools by as much as 80%.
Reality check: It's actually complex, time-consuming and costly to head north — and there's no fast-track for Americans — so few follow through on the threat.