Cynical theory, the UK is now full of the descendants of all those who said "Emigrating? That will never work", and that's set the culture. Grafters and optimists have had many opportunities to leave over recent centuries.
Those that emigrated were descendants of people who didn’t emigrate.
[1] https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/immigration-system-...
And when it is partially true, it echos. I think even iRobot mentions this about Europe.
There is a difference in culture. Where the US dominates, europe is pessimistic, and (Africa/New New World) is growing. I suppose the New New world never really happened, the US stayed ontop. I imagine iRobot was a bit more optimistic about the political affairs of the New New world.
The US for all its faults, is the land of hope and can do. I have travelled a lot in the world but somehow places like Miami, New York, SF, Vegas, Dallas and a bunch of other cities have this palpalable energy that you can do anything that you want.
If that was true, why didn't people from US emigrate again?