The final episode of The Settlers focuses on how the protagonist of our series has fared in Hungary since moving to Budapest with their family in 2017 through the residency by investment program. Additionally, we evaluate the economic outcomes of the Hungarian program and similar programs in other countries, while also exploring whether the end of the residency by investment programs has effectively closed Hungary's doors to people from China seeking to settle here.

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Dr. Kristin Surak is a renowned sociologist and author specializing in international migration, citizenship, and global inequalities. Explore her insights through engaging podcasts that delve into pressing global issues and transformative ideas.

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On this episode, Mark Blyth talks with Surak about what might be called the “citizenship industrial complex”’ and what it says about our global economy. 

Join host Michael Coven for an engaging discussion on The Golden Passport: Global Mobility for Millionaires. The podcast unpacks golden passport programs, citizenship by investment, mobility vs. immigration, complexities of citizenship acquisition, legal immigration and the concept of “buying” your way in, and common ways of illegal migration. Jump in!

Golden passports and golden visas - do we have a more mobile future as countries try to attract talent and wealth?

With Ultra-high-net-worth-individuals increasingly on the move and competition from governments to attract both them and their tax revenue we speak to leading migration expert Kristin Surak to understand the implications for real estate.

During the 1980s, Japan seemed like it might overtake the US to become the world’s largest economy. But since a property bubble burst in the early 90s, Japan has become a by-word for economic stagnation. That hasn’t prevented the ruling Liberal Democratic Party from maintaining its status as the most successful political party in the rich capitalist world.

Your passport tells a story of where you’re from—and where you’re allowed to go. But what if you wanted to rewrite that story? Professor Kristin Surak joins us to discuss the world of golden passports, where millionaires and billionaires buy citizenship to countries they’re not from—and are often not living in—in order to navigate travel perks, business opportunities, and even scandals. If you thought all passports were created equal, you’re in for a trip.

Our lives are in countless ways defined by our citizenship. The country we belong to affects our rights, our travel possibilities, and ultimately our chances in life. Obtaining a new citizenship is rarely easy. But for those with the means—billionaires like Peter Thiel and Jho Low, but also countless unknown multimillionaires—it’s just a question of price.