I'm Alex Carter.
I cover the exodus.
Three years tracking Americans who left. 847 cases. 7 countries. The data behind the biggest emigration story since the Dust Bowl.
The Background
I grew up in Austin, Texas. Got the degree, landed the data analytics job, signed the lease. On paper, I was doing everything right. But something didn't fit.
At 28, I left. Moved to Barcelona without a plan, expecting it to be a gap year. It wasn't. Instead, I started noticing something no one was really talking about: Americans were leaving — systematically, quietly, in larger numbers than anyone seemed to realize.
In 2023, I stopped just observing and started tracking. I catalogued cases. Cross-referenced visa applications with Census data. Interviewed expats across seven countries. The patterns became undeniable: 73% of Americans abroad return within five years. But a growing segment wasn't.
What started as personal curiosity became a beat. Today I cover American emigration full-time from Europe — reporting the numbers, mapping the exodus, and documenting the lives of those choosing to build elsewhere. My research, “The 73%”, examines what separates those who return from those who don't.
How I Got Here
Left Austin
Left a data analytics career in Austin. Moved to Barcelona on a hunch that turned into a beat.
First Patterns
Started noticing Americans showing up in European cities in unusual numbers. Began informal tracking.
Pandemic Pivot
Locked down in Spain. Used the time to build a systematic tracking methodology for American arrivals and departures.
Established Base
Set up permanent reporting base in Spain. Reached 500 tracked cases.
Published First Findings
Three years of data went public. The 73% failure rate made waves. Medium became the primary publishing platform.
Research Tools Released
Made the raw data, calculators, and analysis frameworks available as downloadable guides.
Methodology
Data First
Every claim is backed by tracked cases. No anecdotes without numbers. No numbers without methodology.
Street-Level Verification
Government data tells part of the story. Interviews, community observation, and case tracking tell the rest.
No Conflicts of Interest
No affiliate links. No course upsells. No sponsored content. Revenue comes from research tools, not partnerships.
Access the Research
Download the raw data, analysis frameworks, and calculators. Everything you need to understand the American exodus.
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